Meeting Abstract

P1.204  Saturday, Jan. 4 15:30  Reconstructing the molecular phylogeny of giant elephant shrews (genus Rhynchocyon) CARLEN, E.J.*; RATHBUN, G.B.; DUMBACHER, J.P.; California Academy of Sciences; California Academy of Sciences; California Academy of Sciences ecarlen@calacademy.org

Macroscelidea is the order of sengis, also known as elephant shrews. The 18 extant species vary in size and pelage coloration and are restricted to the African continent. Giant sengi (genus Rhynchocyon) taxonomy has historically relied on morphological characters, specifically variation in pelage color and pattern. We investigated whether the currently-accepted species (based upon pelage variation) represent distinct species, interbreeding populations with a high degree of variation within a single gene pool, or some other genetic construct. Moreover, previous phylogenetic studies of the Macroscelidea have failed to take into account the phenotypic variation and geographical distribution of Rhynchocyon. We analyzed 5,800 nucleotide bases (3.4 kilobases of mitochondrial DNA and 2.4 kilobases of nuclear DNA) representing all described Rhynchocyon taxa. These data were used to reconstruct a phylogeny of giant sengis and confirm the taxonomic classifications. Each recognized species formed a monophyletic clade in our analysis. This research hopes to provide a better understanding of the giant sengi species complex, the biogeographical patterns and the historical causes for such patterns.