Who are you, Griselda? A replacement name for a new genus of the Asiatic short-tailed shrews (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Soricidae): molecular and morphological analyses with the discussion of tribal affinities

Abstract

The first genetic study of the holotype of the Gansu short-tailed shrew, Blarinella griselda Thomas, 1912, is presented. The mitochondrial analysis demonstrated that the type specimen of B. griselda is close to several recently collected specimens from southern Gansu, northern Sichuan and Shaanxi, which are highly distinct from the two species of Asiatic short-tailed shrews of southern Sichuan, Yunnan, and Vietnam, B. quadraticauda and B. wardi. Our analysis of four nuclear genes supported the placement of B. griselda as sister to B. quadraticauda / B. wardi, with the level of divergence between these two clades corresponding to that among genera of Soricinae. A new generic name, Parablarinella, is proposed for the Gansu short-tailed shrew. Karyotypes of Parablarinella griselda (2n = 49, NFa = 50) and B. quadraticauda (2n = 49, NFa = 62) from southern Gansu are described. The tribal affinities of Blarinellini and Blarinini are discussed.

Integrative Taxonomy within Eremias multiocellata Complex (Sauria, Lacertidae) from the Western Part of Range: Evidence from Historical DNA

“…Previously, we successfully obtained DNA sequences for historical reptile samples: Phrynocephalus rossicowi (Reptilia), Dipus saggita (Mammalia), Blarinella griselda (Mammalia), Tonkinodentus lestes (Chilopoda), etc. [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. This paper attempts to use the possibilities of studying historical DNA for the clarification of unsolved problems in this taxonomically challenging complex.…”

Molecular systematics of the Sicista tianschanica species complex: a contribution from historical DNA analysis

“…To a large extent, this is associated with their new role as a source of archive DNA for evolutionary and taxonomic research ( Payne & Sorenson, 2002 ; Irestedt et al, 2006 ; Rowe et al, 2011 ; Bi et al, 2013 ). In particular, genetic data obtained from museum specimens are often indispensable for studies of rare, protected, or poorly accessible species ( Ruane & Austin, 2017 ; Bannikova et al, 2019 ; Tsai et al, 2019 ; Turvey et al, 2019 ). Within the latter category, several groups of mammals are endemic to mountain regions of Central Asia (Tibet, the Himalayas, Tianshan, Altai), including several insufficiently studied species of birch mice ( Sicista Griffith, 1827; Sminthidae; Rodentia).…”

Molecular and morphological evidence support a new species of Asiatic short-tailed shrew (Eulipotyphla: Soricidae)

“…These animals are mainly distributed in central and southwestern China and adjacent areas (Burgin and He 2018). The Asiatic short-tailed shrews currently comprise the two genera Blarinella Thomas, 1911 (suggested common name: West Asian short-tailed shrews) and Parablarinella Bannikova et al, 2019 (suggested common name: East Asian short-tailed shrews)—and three species: B. quadraticauda (Milne Edwards, 1872); B. wardi Thomas, 1915; and P. griselda (Thomas, 1912). A well-resolved taxonomic account of the Asiatic short-tailed shrews is important for biomedical applications and human safety, as a recent study showed that B. quadraticauda has oral venom systems, with the venom capable of inducing blood hypercoagulation and hypertension (Liao et al 2022).…”

“…Bannikova et al (2019) pointed out that the new genus name previously was assigned to a subgenus of African beetles (genus Agrilus ) and proposed a new genus name, Parablarinella . Currently, P. griselda is only recorded in southern Gansu, north Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, and southern Ningxia (Bannikova et al 2019; Pu et al 2020); B. wardi is distributed in northern Myanmar and western Yunnan, China; and B. quadraticauda is widespread in central and southwestern China (Chongqing, Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Sichuan Provinces) and adjacent North Vietnam. Thus, Western Hubei Province (Changyang County) is currently considered the easternmost distribution of the Asiatic short-tailed shrews (Burgin and He 2018; Bannikova et al 2019).…”

“…Currently, P. griselda is only recorded in southern Gansu, north Sichuan, southern Shaanxi, and southern Ningxia (Bannikova et al 2019; Pu et al 2020); B. wardi is distributed in northern Myanmar and western Yunnan, China; and B. quadraticauda is widespread in central and southwestern China (Chongqing, Hubei, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Chongqing, Hubei, and Sichuan Provinces) and adjacent North Vietnam. Thus, Western Hubei Province (Changyang County) is currently considered the easternmost distribution of the Asiatic short-tailed shrews (Burgin and He 2018; Bannikova et al 2019).…”