Chromosomal and molecular characterization of Aethomys kaiseri from Zambia and Aethomys chrysophilus from Tanzania (Rodentia, Muridae)

Aethomys is a common and widespread rodent genus in the African savannas and grasslands. However, its systematics and taxonomy are still unclear as no study has covered the entire range. In fact it might not be a monophyletic genus and perhaps should be split into two subgenera, Micaelamys and Aetho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hereditas 2003-10, Vol.139 (2), p.81-89
Main Authors: CASTIGLIA, RICCARDO, CORTI, MARCO, COLANGELO, PAOLO, ANNESI, FLAVIA, CAPANNA, ERNESTO, VERHEYEN, WALTER, SICHILIMA, ALFRED MATAFWALI, MAKUNDI, RHODES
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aethomys chrysophilus
Aethomys kaiseri
Aethomys namaquensis
Animals
Base Sequence
Chromosome Banding
Chromosome Mapping
Cytochromes b - genetics
DNA Primers
Female
Karyotyping
Male
Micaelamys
Muridae - classification
Muridae - genetics
Species Specificity
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Summary:Aethomys is a common and widespread rodent genus in the African savannas and grasslands. However, its systematics and taxonomy are still unclear as no study has covered the entire range. In fact it might not be a monophyletic genus and perhaps should be split into two subgenera, Micaelamys and Aethomys. In this paper, we present findings based on the cytogenetics and the entire cytochrome b sequence of two species from Zambia (A. kaiseri) and Tanzania (A. chrysophilus), and we compare them with the sequences of a South African species (A. namaquensis) and other allied muroid genera. Comparison of the banded chromosomes revealed complete G‐band homology between the autosomes of the two species. However, the X and Y chromosomes clearly differ in size and in C‐ and G‐banding, being much larger in A. kaiseri. Comparison of the cytochrome b sequences places the separation between A. kaiseri and A. chrysophilus at 4.49 Mya, a period of intense speciation in other African muroids. The resulting phylogeny strongly supports the idea of a paraphyletic group, suggesting the need to elevate the previously described subgenera to the genus rank.
ISSN:0018-0661
1601-5223
DOI:10.1111/j.1601-5223.2003.01763.x