Mitochondrial evidence indicates a shallow phylogeographic structurefor Jaculus blanfordi (Murray, 1884) populations (Rodentia: Dipodidae)

Abstract

Dipodidae) are widely distributed in the desert and semiarid habitats across the Palearctic biogeographic region (northern Africa, Arabia, the Middle East, and Middle Asia) (Holden and Musser, 2005). The main morphological criterion that is employed to distinguish Jaculus species from other jerboas (such as members of the genus Allactaga) is the reduced number of digits; i.e. there are only three functional digits in Jaculus members (Ellerman, 1941). The genus contains six species:

Cryptic species and co‐diversification in sand scorpions from the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts of Central Asia

“…Molecular dating estimates placed these divergences in the late Pliocene after the formation of deep river channels that drain the Amu Darya to the Caspian Sea. Although phylogenetic data from the Karakum and Kyzylkum deserts are rare, similar genetic discontinuities have been observed in lizards (Guo et al, 2011;Solovyeva et al, 2011;Zheng et al, 2000) but not mammals (Melnikova & Naderi, 2017).…”

“…Molecular clock estimates date these splits to have occurred during the Late Miocene to Pliocene. Conversely, a recent study on desert rodents did not detect genetic divergences across the Amu Darya River (Melnikova & Naderi, ), indicating that some terrestrial fauna may not be affected by riverine/riparian barriers. Thus, the relative influence of the Amu Darya on structuring regional terrestrial fauna would be ideal for a comparative phylogeographic analysis using additional arid‐adapted animals.…”