Barcoding, molecular taxonomy, and exploration of the diversity of shrews (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) on Mount Nimba (Guinea)

Abstract

We tested the efficiency of cytochrome oxidase I (COI)‐barcoding as a taxonomic tool to discriminate and identify sympatric shrew species on Mount Nimba (Guinea). We identified 148 specimens at the species level using morphological characters and comparison with type specimens, including several taxa from Mount Nimba. We identified ten morphospecies and tested aspects of genetic diversity and monophyly using genetic data from three mitochondrial (16S, cytochrome b, and COI) and one nuclear marker (the breast cancer gene, BRCA). Nine morphospecies were validated under the phylogenetic and genetic species concepts, including the recently diverged species Crocidura buettikoferi, Crocidura theresae, and Crocidura grandiceps. Under the same concepts, our analyses revealed the presence of two cryptic species amongst animals identified as Crocidura muricauda. We then tested the efficiency of barcoding thanks to commonly used phenetic methods, with the 148 specimens representing 11 potentially valid species based on morphological and molecular data. We show that COI‐barcoding is a powerful tool for shrew identification and can be used for taxonomic surveys. The comparison of genetic divergence values shows the presence of a barcoding gap (i.e. difference between the highest intraspecific and the lowest interspecific genetic divergence values). Given that only a few COI sequences are available for Afrotropical shrews, our work is an important step forward toward their enrichment. We also tested the efficiency of the three other sequenced markers and found that cytochrome b is as efficient as COI for barcoding shrews. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 166, 672–687.

Forest refugia and riverine barriers promote diversification in the West African pygmy shrew (Crocidura obscurior complex, Soricomorpha)

“…() with 14.3–20.6% and Jacquet et al . () with 5.5–20.4%. Specimens of clades I and II were found to occur in sympatry across the range of clade II (Ziama, Dieke, Tokadeh, Mt Ghi and Tai National Park), and the absence of recombination (congruence between all markers) implies reproductive isolation.…”

Multilocus phylogeny of the Crocidura poensis species complex (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla): Influences of the palaeoclimate on its diversification and evolution

“…Nevertheless, the morphology of shrews is known to be highly dependent on their environment (Rychlik, Ramalhinho, & Polly, 2006) and a taxonomy based exclusively on such information can lead to the grouping of phylogenetically unrelated forms (Jacquet et al, 2013). Cytogenetic and allozyme studies (Maddalena, 1990;Meylan, 1971;Meylan & Vogel, 1982;Schlitter, Hutterer, Maddalena, & Robins, 1999) and several recent molecular phylogenies (Ceríaco et al, 2015;Dubey et al, 2008;Jacquet, Nicolas, Bonillo, Cruaud, & Denys, 2012;Quérouil et al, 2005) shed new light on the systematics of this group. No molecular study including all the species of the complex was carried out, and previous sampling schemes were not suitable (few specimens and specimens from few localities) to sort apart intra-versus interspecific divergence.…”

Description of a new endemic species of shrew (Mammalia, Soricomorpha) from PrÍncipe Island (Gulf of Guinea)

“…Within the C. poensis complex, similar divergence values are seen between the closely related species C. buettikoferi , C. theresae , and C. grandiceps (5.5 -8.1%, Jacquet et al 2012 ). Our values are also above the limit of intraspecific variations described for Soricidae (0 -5.2%, Fumagalli et al 1999 ) and for the genus Crocidura (0 -3.4%, Jacquet et al 2012 ). Nevertheless, Vogel et al (2003) noticed intraspecific values ranging from 0.4 to 8.9% within the genus.…”