Native Korean wild mice (Mus musculus): molecular phylogeny and morphometrics

Abstract

Taxonomic status of house mice in the Korean Peninsula remains poorly understood. Here, we analyze genetic and morphological characteristics of mice from Korea and evaluate their phylogenetic relationships to the well-known primary subspecies. Using a comprehensive set of publicly available genetic data (mtDNAcytbgene), Korean mice including our specimens from islands, mountains, and agricultural fields were identified toMus mus musculus. External morphology, such as tail ratios of our specimens, resembled previously assigned subspecies (e.g.,M. m. molossinus,M. m. utsuryonis, andM. m. yamashinai), suggesting a single subspecific group withinM. m. musculus. Korean mice displayed a distinctive landmark configuration around the snout, with a relatively short and slender premaxillary tooth-patch width (PMXW) and a larger maxillary tooth-row length (MXTL) compared to laboratory strains derived fromM. m. domesticus. Our investigation provides insights into the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of Korean mice relative to the primary lineages ofM. musculussubspecies. Understanding the evolutionary history of KoreanM. m. musculussheds new light on how their spatiotemporal dynamics led to diversification, with the Korean Peninsula serving as an ecological bridge between East Eurasia and neighboring regions.