Molecular Relationships of the New Guinean Bandicoot Genera Microperoryctes and Echymipera (Marsupialia: Peramelina)

• Published in: Journal of mammalian evolution 2001-06, Vol.8 (2), p.93-105
• Main Authors: Westerman, M, Springer, M S, Krajewski, C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Congeners; Divergence; Echymipera; Echymipera kalubu; Echymipera rufescens; Haplotypes; Microperoryctes; Morphology; rRNA 12S
• ISSN: 1064-7554; 1573-7055
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1011302314000

The complete 12S rRNA gene was sequenced for multiple exemplars of the New Guinean bandicoot genera Microperoryctes and Echymipera representing many of the currently recognized subspecies. These two genera are resolved as monophyletic sister taxa but there was no genetic support for the family Peroryctidae proposed by Groves and Flannery (1990). Within Microperoryctes, M. papuensis was sister to M. longicauda. Although there was only weak support for recognition of the subspecies M. l. magnus, our results demonstrate the need for further genetic and morphological studies of variation among populations of Microperoryctes. Haplotype relationships within Echymipera did not reflect current species boundaries. Although E. clara was the most divergent species, no clear separation could be made between E. rufescens and E. kalubu (E. kalubu samples from New Britain were consistently more closely allied with the E. rufescens exemplars collected from north and east of the Central Cordillera than with their congeners). We suggest the need for a major morphological reassessment of New Guinean bandicoot relationships.