Taxonomy of rock-wallabies, Petrogale (Marsupialia : Macropodidae). III. Molecular data confirms the species status of the purple-necked rock-wallaby (Petrogale purpureicollis Le Souef)

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis was undertaken to resolve the systematic uncertainties surrounding the morphologically distinct purple-necked rock-wallaby (P. lateralis purpureicollis) of north-west Queensland, Australia. A comparison of mtDNA sequence divergence using both whole mtDNA restriction site and control-region sequence analyses revealed that P. l. purpureicollis was as well differentiated from other P. lateralis (black-footed rock-wallaby) taxa as P. lateralis was from P. penicillata (brush-tailed rock-wallaby) or P. assimilis (allied rock-wallaby). Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence data suggests thatP. lateralis (sensu lato) is paraphyletic, with P. l. purpureicollis being more closely aligned to P. penicillataand P. assimilis than to P. lateralis (sensu stricto). Data are also presented that demonstrate significant differences in the distribution of the telomeric repeat sequence (TTAGGG)n between the chromosomes of P. l. purpureicollis and the karyotypically similar MacDonnell Ranges race of P. lateralis. In addition, meiosis appears to be severely disrupted in the majority (73%) of oocytes examined from two P. l. purpureicollis MacDonnell Ranges race hybrids. In light of these findings we recommend that the purple-necked rock-wallaby be reinstated as a full species, P. purpureicollis Le Souef 1924.

Phylogeography of the pademelons (Marsupialia: Macropodidae: Thylogale) in New Guinea reflects both geological and climatic events during the Plio-Pleistocene

“…, 2001; Macqueen et al. , 2009), but was similar to estimates of inter‐specific divergence in the rock wallaby ( Petrogale ) complex (Eldridge et al. , 2001) and the bettongs ( Bettongia ) (Pope et al.…”

Phylogenetics, population structure and genetic diversity of the endangered southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in south-eastern Australia

“…Average divergence amongst clades is 5.7% (range 4.4-6.6%) which is comparable to published levels of control region divergence for other marsupial sub-species (eg. yellow-footed rockwallaby, Petrogale xanthopus, 5.7%, Pope et al 1996; and black-footed rock-wallaby, P. lateralis, 5.0%, Eldridge et al 2001). The divergence of control region sequences amongst I. obesulus/auratus clades is substantially less than the 21.5% observed between I. obesulus and I. macrourus, or the $10-17% reported amongst four Petrogale species .…”

Diversification and Persistence at the Arid-Monsoonal Interface: Australia-Wide Biogeography of the Bynoe's Gecko (Heteronotia Binoei; Gekkonidae)

“…data). Until now, evidence for narrow endemism in the Selwyn Ranges has been sparse, largely because of lack of knowledge (Morton et al 1995); however, there are species of reptiles ( Gehyra robusta ; King 1983; Demansia flagellatio ; Wells and Wellington 1985) and one rock wallaby ( Petrogale purpureicollis ; Eldridge et al 2001) locally endemic to these rocky ranges, and several more species have population isolates there (i.e., Ctenotus alacer , Varanus mitchelli ; see Wilson and Swan 2003).…”