The genetic diversity of small mammals of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Lavrenchenko, Leonid A.; Милишников, А. Н.; Анискин, В. М.; Warshavsky, A. A.; Gebrekidan, Woldegabriel

doi:10.4314/sinet.v20i2.18102

Cited by 23 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…At least three distinct karyotypes occur among Ethiopian populations assigned to Otomys "typus" (see also Lavrenchenko et al 1997). Examples of topotypic O. typus s.s. from the alpine zone of Mount Guna (female: ZMMU 172732), of O. typus fortior from southwestern Ethiopian forests (4 males: ZMMU 164961, 164962, 164965, 181666; two females: ZMMU 164963, 181667), and of Otomys helleri (= "Sp.…”

Section: Cytogenetic Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…nov.; see Taxonomic Summary) (male: ZMMU 162594) from the Bale Massif (Fig. 2b, see also Lavrenchenko et al 1997). A third karyotype (2N=54, NF=56), termed "Sp.…”

Section: Cytogenetic Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The last-mentioned locality is the type locality of helleri; thus the name helleri can be equated with the taxon "Sp. B" of Lavrenchenko et al (1997). The assignment of specimens from other unassigned localities was more ambiguous; thus Hirna comprises specimens assigned to both typus s.s. (n=1) and "Sp.…”

Section: Morphometric Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex

Taylor¹,

Lavrenchenko²,

Carleton³

et al. 2011

Zootaxa

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We combined evidence from biogeography, craniodental traits, linear and geometric morphometrics (233 skulls), cytogenetics (karyotypes of 18 individuals) and mitochondrial DNA sequences (44 cytochrome b and 21 12S rRNA sequences) to test species limits within Otomys typus s.l. (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini), a complex that is patchily distributed across alpine zones of Ethiopia and East Africa. Our results confirm the specific validity of O. dartmouthi, O. jacksoni, O. orestes, and O. uzungwensis, forms recently removed from synonymy under typus s.l.; support elevation of four other alpine forms to species (O. fortior, O. helleri, O. thomasi, and O. zinki); identify three additional new species (O. cheesmani sp. nov., O. simiensis sp. nov., O. yaldeni sp. nov.); and enable redefinition of O. typus s.s. as a species restricted to certain mountains west of the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia (Simien and Guna Mountains in the north, extending to the highlands of the western rim of the Rift Valley). Phylogenetic interpretation of the cytochrome b data clearly demonstrates that the alpine morphotype once united under O. typus s.l. has originated independently at high elevations on several mountain ranges in eastern and northeastern Africa; although generally adapted to high-elevation vegetation, such alpine species are ecologically segregated from one another. Patterns of morphometric, genetic, and ecological differentiation among populations once misassigned to nominal O. tropicalis and O. typus more parsimoniously reflect regional cladogenesis along elevational gradients, rather than multiple, successive colonization by different ancestral forms from southern Africa as earlier supposed. Although incomplete and preliminary, information gathered for O. tropicalis indicates that it too is a species composite; several lines of research are discussed to redress its polyphyletic content. Our results, together with other recent taxonomic studies of Otomys, appreciably elevate the level of endemism within eastern Africa and underscore the significance of Africa's eastern highlands to the continental diversification of Otomyini.

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Section: Cytogenetic Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…nov.; see Taxonomic Summary) (male: ZMMU 162594) from the Bale Massif (Fig. 2b, see also Lavrenchenko et al 1997). A third karyotype (2N=54, NF=56), termed "Sp.…”

Section: Cytogenetic Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex

Taylor¹,

Lavrenchenko²,

Carleton³

et al. 2011

Zootaxa

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“…However estimates of the actual number of species vary, and this number is probably underestimated due to the likely existence of numerous undescribed relict populations adapted to high altitude, moist, fire‐less regimes occurring throughout mountainous regions of central, East and West Africa (Bohmann 1952; Misonne 1974; Petter 1982; Denys 1989; Dieterlen & Van der Straeten 1992; Taylor et al . 1993; Lavrenchenko et al . 1997; Taylor & Kumirai 2001; Maree 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phylogeny of the African murid tribe Otomyini (Rodentia), based on morphological and allozyme evidence

Taylor¹,

Denys²,

Mukerjee³

2004

Zoologica Scripta

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Phylogeny of the African murid tribe Otomyini (Rodentia), based on morphological and allozyme evidence. -Zoologica Scripta , 33 , 389-402. Based on a cladistic analysis of 45 morphological (craniodental) and 46 binary allozyme characters, previous systematic treatments of the African murid tribe, Otomyini (laminate-toothed rats), are reviewed. Cladistic analysis of the craniodental data, involving eight outgroup taxa, confirmed the monophyly of the Otomyini, and suggested Pelomys to represent the sister genus of the Otomyini. Craniodental synapomorphies provided strong support for certain basal relationships among Otomyini rodents, reinforcing available palaeontological evidence. However, poor statistical (Bremer decay index) support was obtained for terminal relationships. The data presented revealed a 'mesic clade' of southern and eastern African species, with Otomys sloggetti basal to this group. The arid-adapted, southern Africa-endemic species, Parotomys littledalei , P. brantsii and O. unisulcatus , were all placed basal to the 'mesic clade', but did not form a separate 'arid clade', as suggested by earlier biochemical studies. Two allozyme synapomorphies supported the existence of the 'mesic clade', separate from arid-adapted southern African species. A strict cladistic interpretation of the present data did not support the existence of two genera in the tribe, and the two species of Parotomys (whistling rats) should be transferred to Otomys . At the species level, specific identity of O. lacustris and O. barbouri , distinct from O. anchietae , was supported by several autapomorphies, and O. tropicalis burtoni was shown to be included in O. angoniensis rather than O. tropicalis , extending the range of the former species into West Africa.

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“…The country has 284 species of mammals of which 39.4% are small mammals (Lavrenchenko et al, 1997;Datiko et al, 2007;Habtamu and Bekele, 2008). The country possesses 84 rodent species of which 15 are endemic (Bekele, 1996a;Lavrenchenko et al, 1998), comprising 25% of the Ethiopian mammal fauna and about 50% of the total endemic species (Bekele, 1996b;Yalden et al, 1996;Datiko et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Species composition and abundance of small mammals in Chebera-Churchura National Park, Ethiopia

Datiko¹

2013

J. Ecol. Nat. Environ.

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In this study, we investigated species composition and abundance of small mammals (rodents and insectivores) in the recently established Chebera Churchura National Park, in Ethiopia between 2010 and 2011. Two study grids were established in seven selected habitats. In each grid, forty-nine Sherman live traps were used to capture the small mammals. A total of 704 individuals were captured in 5488 trap-nights. Among them, 682 (98.3%) were rodents and 12 (1.7%) were insectivores. These comprised 16 species of rodents and 2 species of insectivores. The captured species were: Mastomys natalensis, Mastomys erythroleucus, Lemniscomys striatus, Arvicanthis nilotiucs, Arvicanthis dembeensis, Acomys cahirinus, Rattus rattus, Mus musculus, Stenocephalemys albipes, Gerbilliscus robusta, Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Pelomys harringtoni, Mus tentellus, Crocidura fumosa and Crocidura flavescens. Tachyoryctes splendens, Xerus rutilus and Hystrix cristata were recorded as observed species. The abundance of species varied among habitats and between seasons. M. natalensis and L. striatus were the most abundant species, whereas C. flavescens was the least abundant. The age distribution and trap success of small mammals varied between seasons and among habitats. This study clearly shows that the park has a diverse fauna.

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The genetic diversity of small mammals of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia

Cited by 23 publications

References 0 publications

Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex

Specific limits and emerging diversity patterns in East African populations of laminate-toothed rats, genus Otomys (Muridae: Murinae: Otomyini): Revision of the Otomys typus complex

Phylogeny of the African murid tribe Otomyini (Rodentia), based on morphological and allozyme evidence

Species composition and abundance of small mammals in Chebera-Churchura National Park, Ethiopia

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