Phylogenetic reassessment of gorals with new evidence from northern Myanmar reveals five distinct species

• Published in: Mammal review 2020-10, Vol.50 (4), p.325-330
• Main Authors: Li, Guogang, Sun, Nan, Swa, Kyaw, Zhang, Mingxia, Lwin, Ye Htet, Quan, Rui‐Chang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biogeography; Divergence; gorals; mitogenome; Mountains; Naemorhedus; Naemorhedus goral; northern Myanmar; phylogenetics; Phylogeny; Pleistocene; Pliocene; Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau and Hengduan Mountains; Range extension; Speciation; Species; Uplift
• ISSN: 0305-1838; 1365-2907
• DOI: 10.1111/mam.12200

Researchers have recognised one to seven species of goral (Naemorhedus spp., Caprinae, Bovidae). We compared all available whole mitogenomic sequences, including eight new ones from northern Myanmar, and now recognise five distinct species. Naemorhedus caudatus remains a valid species. Naemorhedus griseus is a synonym of Naemorhedus goral. Naemorhedus evansi is a valid species, with a geographic range that extends northwards into southwestern China. Naemorhedus cranbrooki and Naemorhedus baileyi are distinct species, not synonyms. Molecular divergence analyses suggest that goral speciation was closely related to the rapid uplift of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau and Hengduan Mountains from the early Pliocene to the Pleistocene. Species recognition will always be refreshed with the emergence of new evidence. Gorals Naemorhedus are small goat antelopes. Up to seven distinct goral species were recognised, and these were split or lumped depending on different characteristics. However, their phylogenetics remained unclear because of limited genetic data. We obtained eight molecular samples during several expeditions to northern Myanmar, the junction of the east‐west Himalayas and the north‐south Hengduan mountains. We compared all available whole mitogenomic sequences of gorals and confirm the existence of five goral species. This is incongruent with previous classification and subdivision. The map shows the collection localities of the five goral species identified in this study, in the same colours used in phylogenetic tree below. Molecular divergence analyses suggest that goral speciation was closely related to the rapid uplift of the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau and Hengduan Mountains from the early Pliocene to the Pleistocene.