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Sundasciurus spp.
in Hinckley, Hawkins, Achmadi, et al., 2020.
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A surprising amount of hidden phylogenetic diversity exists in the small to medium size, drab colored squirrels of the genus Sundasciurus. This genus is endemic to Sundaland and the Philippines, where it is widespread. An earlier revision of this genus found that the high elevation ‘populations’ of the widespread, lowland slender squirrel (S. tenuis) were different species. Previous phylogenies based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences also suggested that the widespread, lowland Low’s squirrel (S. lowii) and the narrow endemic Fraternal squirrel (S. fraterculus) are not reciprocally monophyletic. Additionally, deep divergences have been identified between lineages within Low’s squirrel that date to the early Pliocene. Here we focus on evaluating the relationships and differences within and between populations of these two nominal species using whole mitochondrial genome sequences, nuclear intron sequences, and morphology. We reassess the taxonomy of this group, revalidate the species status of Robinson’s squirrel (Sundasciurus robinsoni Bonhote, 1903) support the species level recognition of the Natuna squirrel (Sundasciurus natunensis Thomas, 1895) and identify three other lineages that require further study. We estimate times of divergence and integrate geologic history to find that most of the divergences are pre-Pleistocene, and thus predate the Pleistocene flooding of Sundaland. Biogeographic, and ecological factors may have played a more important role than climatic factors in generating these patterns. While divergence in allopatry seems to be the main process driving speciation in lowland Sundaland squirrels (Sundasciurus), ecomorphological and behavioral adaptations in this clade suggest an important role of niche divergence.
Keywords: Sundasciurus, mammal, Borneo, biogeography, speciation, systematics, rodent, Sciuridae
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Sundasciurus lowii from Sepilok, Sabah.
photo: Mojito La
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| Figure 6. Dorsal, palatal, and lateral views of the holotype skulls of Sundasciurus lowii (NHM76.5.2.14), Sundasciurus natunensis (NHM94.9.28.40) and Sundasciurus robinsoni (NHM3.2.6.55). Given the highly damaged state of the holotype skull of Sundasciurus fraterculus (NHM95.1.9.12), the type of Sundasciurus fraterculus siberu (NHM47.1488) is shown instead for the sake of comparison. All pictures are at the same scale. |
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| Figure 1. Map of Sundaland showing the distribution of the different subspecies of the Low-Fraternal squirrel species complex, with dots indicating sample collection locations of specimens included in the morphometric analyses. Samples are colored according to the four highly supported major clades recovered in the mitogenome-based phylogenies of Figures 2, 3. Populations indicated by a red circle have been considered S. l. natunensis but the morphological data in this study suggests they are more similar to S. l. lowii. Populations indicated with a green square have been considered S. l. lowii but the morphological data in this study suggests these they are more similar to S. l. natunensis. Molecular evidence from these populations is needed to clarify their taxonomic status. Populations included in the morphological analyses but not the genetic analyses are indicated in gray. |
Sundasciurus robinsoni (Bonhote, 1903) – Robinson’s squirrel
Sciurus robinsoni Bonhote (1903):24.
—Type locality. Bukit Besar, Nawngchik, Patani, Peninsular Thailand, 2500 ft.
Holotype. BMNH 3.2.6.55, skull, skin, adult female, collected 30 August 1901 by C. H. Robinson and N. Annandale
Subspecific Taxonomy
Sundasciurus robinsoni robinsoni (Bonhote, 1903)
Sciurus robinsoni alacris Thomas, 1908e: 306.—Type locality. Selangor-Pahang border, Malaya, 3000ft.
Sciurus seimundi Thomas and Wroughton, 1909:440.—Type locality. Kundur Island, Riau Islands
Sundasciurus robinsoni balae (Miller, 1903)
Sciurus balae Miller, 1903:14.—Type locality. Tana Bala, Batu Islands, Sumatra
Sciurus piniensis Miller, 1903:14.—Type locality. Pulo Pinie, Batu Islands, Sumatra
Sciurus humilis Miller, 1913:24.—Type locality. Kateman river, East Sumatra
Sundasciurus robinsoni vanakeni (Robinson and Kloss, 1916)
Sciurus vanakeni Robinson and Kloss, 1916:270.—Type locality. Barong Bharu, Korinchi, Sumatra, 4000 ft.
Distribution: Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Batu and Rhio Archipelagos. The subspecies S. r. robinsoni and S. r. balae have been recorded from 0–610 m, on the Malay Peninsula and Rhio and Sumatra and Batu, respectively, while S. r. vanakeni has been recorded between 900–1372 m on Mount Kerinci.
Sundasciurus natunensis (Thomas, 1895)- Natuna squirrel.
Sciurus lowii natunensis Thomas, 1895:26.
—Type locality. “Sirhassen Island” (Serasan), Natuna Islands.
Holotype. BMNH 94.9.28.40, skull, skin, adult male, collected 23 September 1893 by A. H. Everett.
Distribution: Southern Natuna islands (only recorded in Sirhassen Island), and possibly in west Borneo. Despite discrete characters such as postorbital processes and tail shape of the latter populations closely resemble S. natunensis, we currently consider the taxonomic status of west Borneo populations as incertae sedis given the intermediate phenotypic position of these among S. natunensis and S. lowii shown in the PCA and DAPC and the lack of genetic evidence. Genetic data from these, southern Sumatra and northern Natuna populations is needed to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of this group.
Sundasciurus lowii (Thomas, 1895) - Low’s squirrel.
Sciurus lowii Thomas, 1895: 253.
—Type locality. “Lumbidan, on the mainland opposite Labuan”, Sarawak, Borneo.
Holotype. BMNH 76. 5. 2. 14., skull, skin, adult male, collected by H. Low (unknown date).
Subspecific Taxonomy
Sundasciurus lowii lowii (Thomas, 1895)
Sundasciurus lowii bangueyae (Thomas, 1908)
Sciurus lowii bangueyae Thomas, 1908:387.— Type locality. “Banguey Island” (Banggi)
Sundasciurus lowii lingungensis (Miller, 1901)
Sciurus lingungensis Miller, 1901:123.—Type locality. Lingung Island, Near Bunguran Island, Natuna Islands
Distribution: S. l. lowii is present in Borneo, S. l. bangueyae in Banggi and Balambangan islands, (and possibly Malawali island as well) and S. l. lingungensis in the Northern Natunas (recorded in Bunguran, Lingung and Laut islands).
Taxonomic Notes:
Corbet and Hill (1992) pointed out that geographical variation in Sundasciurus lowii sensu lato is slight. Many of the currently recognized subspecies are not morphologically distinct from others. We consider Sundasciurus robinsoni balae and Sundasciurus robinsoni vanakeni valid subspecies based on their ventral coloration and craniodental differentiation (Figure 5 and Supplementary Figure S3). We synonymize former Sundasciurus lowii humilis with Sundasciurus robinsoni balae due to external resemblance (ventral grayish coloration in limbs). We also synonymize based on external resemblance (lack of ventral grayish coloration in limbs) Sundasciurus lowii seimundi with Sundasciurus robinsoni robinsoni. Finally, we consider Sundasciurus lowii lingungensis and Sundasciurus lowii bangueyae valid subspecies given their craniodental differentiation (Figure 5 and Supplementary Figure S3).
Molecular species delimitation analyses suggest the presence of three species in Borneo within S. lowii (in Sabah, Sarawak and East Kalimantan). However, phenotypic divergence seems to be slight and the fine scale distribution of the morphs is unknown. The only Sarawak sample included in the PCA was clustered separately but close to Sabah + east Kalimantan, that largely overlapped. Regarding the DAPC, only east Kalimantan samples were differentiated from the remaining overlapping populations. Relative size of interorbital breadth seems to differentiate a small number of Sarawak specimens from the remaining S. lowii, but these samples are clustered very close to the other S. lowii. Sarawak specimens also seem to have darker fur than Sabah and East Kalimantan S. lowii and a lack of blond tips on the tail, which are only observed in Sabah populations. We consider these populations unconfirmed candidate species (Padial et al., 2010) until a better molecular and morphological sampling is performed in terms of geographic coverage and number of specimens included.
As pointed out by Hawkins et al. (2016a) the two subgenera, Aletesciurus and Sundasciurus, proposed by Moore (1958) are not supported as reciprocally monophyletic groups. The discrete characters (presence of sagittal crest, skull size, and shape of anterior-mesial lobe of auditory bullae) described as distinguishing subgenera were not valid for all species. For instance, the Palawan mountain squirrel (Sundasciurus rabori) belongs to Aletesciurus but lacks a sagittal crest and has an intermediate antero-mesial lobe and skull size (40.9-43.6 mm) among both subgenera (Heaney, 1979; Hawkins et al., 2016a). The northern Palawan tree squirrel (Sundasciurus juvencus) shows an antero-mesial lobe that resembles that of the subgenus Sundasciurus despite being assigned to Aletesciurus. Finally, different species of the subgenus Sundasciurus such as S. lowii, S. tahan or S. altitudinis have skulls that reach sizes (41–43 mm) that overlap with those of S. rabori (authors unpublished data). Although these discrete characters do not support the subgenera Aletesciurus and Sundasciurus, Heaney (1979) found support for them in his morphometric analyses. Molecular phylogenies suggest that there are 5–6 major phylogenetic lineages within Sundasciurus, which correspond to monophyly in the subgenus Aletesciurus (which contains 3 divergent clades), and paraphyly in the subgenus Sundasciurus (which also contains 2–3 divergent clades) (Den Tex et al., 2010; Hawkins et al., 2016a). The lack of universally valid diagnostic features and the phylogenetic evidence from this and previous studies demonstrate that current Sundasciurus subgeneric classification is invalid, so we synonymize Aletesciurus with Sundasciurus.
Arlo Hinckley, Melissa T. R. Hawkins, Anang S. Achmadi, Jesús E. Maldonado and Jennifer A. Leonard. 2020. Ancient Divergence Driven by Geographic Isolation and Ecological Adaptation in Forest Dependent Sundaland Tree Squirrels.
Front. Ecol. Evol. DOI:
10.3389/fevo.2020.00208
