Phylogenetic evaluation of taxonomic definition of didelphid mouse opossum of the genus Thylamys from valleys of Coquimbo region, Chile
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Boric Bargetto, Dusan
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Phylogenetic evaluation of taxonomic definition of didelphid mouse opossum of the genus Thylamys from valleys of Coquimbo region, Chile
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Abstract
Only two species of Didelphidae are currently recognized in Chile, the sister species Thylamys
elegans, endemic of Mediterranean ecorregion and Thylamys pallidior, the inhabitant of the Puna
and desert canyons. Three subspecies have been described for T. elegans: T. e. elegans, T. e.
coquimbensis and T. e. soricinus. However, a recent study based on morphological analyses,
synonymized T. elegans coquimbensis from the Coquimbo valleys (30-31 degrees S) with T.
pallidior and proposed that T. elegans and T. pallidior could be in sympatry at Coquimbo valleys
between Fray Jorge (30 degrees 40'S) and Paiguano (30 degrees 02'S). We assess the current
definition of T. e. coquimbensis and T. e. elegans, as well as this taxonomical conflict among the
mouse opossums from the Coquimbo valleys through phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome b
mitochondrial gene sequences. In this study, for the first time, we used specimens from the type
localities of T. e. coquimbensis and T. e. elegans. In addition, we analyzed diagnostic cranial
structures for this taxonomic revision. The results supported two allopatric clades, allowing us to
keep the taxonomic definition of T. e. elegans and T. e. coquimbensis as phylogenetic reciprocal
monophyletic clades and polyphyletic with T. pallidior. This result corroborates previous
morphological analyses, which support that mouse opossums from the Coquimbo valleys are T. e.
coquimbensis, thus extending its geographic distribution to the coast of Coquimbo and Atacama
regions. We don't have evidence for sympatric distribution between T. elegans and T. pallidior in the
Coquimbo region.
Patrocinador
Graduate School of the Universidad de Concepcion
Doctorado en Sistematica y Biodiversidad, a CONICYT
VRIEA PUCV
CONICYT
21110367
8355/2014
grants DIUC 213.113.85-1AP
FONDECYT
1140692
1100695
1130948
1100558
1130467
CASEB 1501-0001
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URI: https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/140573
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Zootaxa Volumen: 4105 Número: 4 Páginas: 339-352 Apr 2016
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