Out of Europe: Investigating Hystrix cristata (Rodentia: Hystricidae) skull morphometric geographic variability in Africa

Abstract

The crested porcupine Hystrix cristata is one of the most well-known members of the Family Hystricidae, yet very little is known regarding its geographic variability in Africa. Two alternative hypotheses exist; pre-1940s classical taxonomy supported the existence of a distinct Eastern African species, Hystrix galeata, whereas recent molecular data seem to support only a North-South separation inside one single species, with the geographic-ecological barrier represented by the Sahara desert. Our morphometric data support the recognition of Hystrix cristata senegalica Cuvier, 1822 as the sub-Saharan representative of the species with a clear morphological difference between the North African and sub-Saharan crested porcupines, which seem re-conductible mostly to size difference. Within H. c. senegalica, our analysis seems to support a weak separation between the West African and the East African samples. Owing to considerable qualitative skull differences and overlooked molecular data, the taxonomic status of H. galeata remains uncertain as well as the status of porcupines of NorthEast Africa (Nubia). Our results also highlight the role of North Africa (mainly the Maghreb) as a refuge for the nominal taxon. This suggests that intraspecific variability is presently overlooked and that further integrative studies and more samples are needed to adequately assess the geographic variability of sub-Saharan crested porcupines.

Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach

“…The better definition of conservation units or ECUs is a greater priority today than fixing the number of species, considering that taxonomy is particularly relevant when translocations are considered a key conservation component [105]. Petzold and collaborators [98] have contributed to better delineate conservation units, especially in the northern continental sector that has traditionally received scarcer conservation attention and where biogeographical barriers, such as the Nile Basin, have been scarcely considered in mammal taxonomic studies [106,107]. The western giraffe, G. c. peralta Thomas, 1898 emerges unanimously as a distinct taxonomic unit and hence as a conservation priority.…”

Cranial Investigations of Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata) by Anatomical Cross-Sections and Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…Consequently, these animals require appropriate conservation policies in regional and local contexts. It is a species of rodent native to Italy and Sicily, as well as a broad central strip ranging from Senegal west to Somalia and east to Kenya and Tanzania, but very little is known regarding its geographic variability in Africa [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. These animals are found in forests, rocky areas, mountains, croplands, and sandhill deserts, and protect themselves in caves, aardvark holes, and burrows that they dig themselves [ 6 , 7 ].…”

“…Among these, we highlighted those studies that deal with brain and head MRI anatomy, which are available at reduced resolution from low field-strength and anatomical cross-sections, and more recently, with a high field-strength magnet in excised and fixed rabbit brain for research and clinical guidance in animals with diverse pathological processes [ 14 , 15 ]. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, only a few publications have been conducted on porcupines, which have been focused on their biology, morphometric geographic variability, and some clinical conditions such as upper respiratory tract disease [ 6 , 8 , 9 , 13 ]. However, no description of the brain has been reported in this specific rodent.…”