Cranial dimorphism in Eurasian red squirrels, Sciurus vulgaris from Slovakia

Čanády, Alexander; Mošanský, Ladislav; Krišovský, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2015.05.004

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 20 publications

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“…Only adults were included in the morphometric analyses. We combined data from males and females in the morphometric analyses because sexual dimorphism is uncommon in tree squirrels (Moore and Tate, 1965;Tenzin et al, 2013;Canády et al, 2015). However, if certain characters were sexually dimorphic, results would be interpreted in the context of phenotypic variation among putative species inclusive of potential patterns of sexual dimorphism, thereby providing a more conservative assessment of divergence (Meik et al, 2018).…”

Section: Morphological Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ancient Divergence Driven by Geographic Isolation and Ecological Adaptation in Forest Dependent Sundaland Tree Squirrels

et al. 2020

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A surprising amount of hidden phylogenetic diversity exists in the small to medium size, drab colored squirrels of the genus Sundasciurus. This genus is endemic to Sundaland and the Philippines, where it is widespread. An earlier revision of this genus found that the high elevation ‘populations’ of the widespread, lowland slender squirrel (S. tenuis) were different species. Previous phylogenies based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences also suggested that the widespread, lowland Low’s squirrel (S. lowii) and the narrow endemic Fraternal squirrel (S. fraterculus) are not reciprocally monophyletic. Additionally, deep divergences have been identified between lineages within Low’s squirrel that date to the early Pliocene. Here we focus on evaluating the relationships and differences within and between populations of these two nominal species using whole mitochondrial genome sequences, nuclear intron sequences, and morphology. We reassess the taxonomy of this group, revalidate the species status of Robinson’s squirrel (Sundasciurus robinsoniBonhote, 1903) support the species level recognition of the Natuna squirrel (Sundasciurus natunensisThomas, 1895) and identify three other lineages that require further study. We estimate times of divergence and integrate geologic history to find that most of the divergences are pre-Pleistocene, and thus predate the Pleistocene flooding of Sundaland. Biogeographic, and ecological factors may have played a more important role than climatic factors in generating these patterns. While divergence in allopatry seems to be the main process driving speciation in lowland Sundaland squirrels (Sundasciurus), ecomorphological and behavioral adaptations in this clade suggest an important role of niche divergence.

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Section: Morphological Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%