Revised occurrence of rodents from the tribe Praomyini (Muridae) in Zambia based on mitochondrial DNA analyses: implications for biogeography and conservation

0383725 - ÚBO 2013 RIV CZ eng J - Journal Article
Bryja, Josef - Mazoch, V. - Patzenhauerová, Hana - Mateke, C. - Zima Jr., J. - Šklíba, J. - Šumbera, R.
Revised occurrence of rodents from the tribe Praomyini (Muridae) in Zambia based on mitochondrial DNA analyses: implications for biogeography and conservation.
Folia zoologica. Roč. 61, 3-4 (2012), s. 268-283. ISSN 0139-7893. E-ISSN 1573-1189
R&D Projects: GA ČR GAP506/10/0983
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : zoogeography * faunistics * mtDNA * Murinae * phylogeny * Rodentia * DNA barcoding
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 0.494, year: 2012

The taxonomy and distribution of rodents in Zambia was comprehensively summarized in 1978 by W.F.H. Ansell in his excellent book Mammals of Zambia. Despite the fact that during the last three decades many new taxonomic revisions of African rodents were published and extensive new material collected, not much work has been done on Zambian rodents since the book publication. Here we summarize the current knowledge of one of the most speciose group of African rodents, the tribe Praomyini, in Zambia. We review available historical records and revise our recently collected material by sequencing the mitochondrial DNA gene of cytochrome b. The presence of eight species of Praomyini in Zambia is documented and the pattern of their geographical distribution is described and discussed. Two species, Praomys minor and Mastomys coucha, are reported for the first time from Zambia and Praomys cf. jacksoni probably represent s a new undescribed species. On the other hand, the actual occurrence of Colomys goslingi, known in Zambia only from one historical record, is questionable. The results document the usefulness of the DNA barcoding approach for description of species diversity of taxonomically complicated groups with many cryptic species.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0213575