Molecular evidence revealed Lepus hainanus and L. peguensis have a conspecific relationship

Abstract

Accurate species delimitation in Lepus was often hindered by highly conserved morphology and frequent introgression. In this study, we used rigorous molecular species delimitation methods to evaluate the taxonomic status of Hainan hare (Lepus hainanus) which has been traditionally identified as a distinct species, or a subspecies of Burmese hare (L. peguensis). The genetic distance and phylogenetic network support L. hainanus and L. peguensis are conspecific. However, the phylogenetic species concept and Bayesian species delimitation analysis based on combined mtDNA supported they are different species. The discordance between different methods can be explained by different species criterion. By taking into account our conflict results, we hold the opinion that adoption of the phylogenetic species concept and Bayesian species delimitation analysis would increase the risk of taxonomic inflation of island biota or otherwise spatially isolated population. Conservatively, we suggest that L. hainanus and L. peguensis are conspecific based on the results of our genetic divergence and phylogenetic network exclusively.

• Lepus hainanus
• Lepus peguensis
• mitochondrial genes
• MGF gene
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous reviewers for providing valuable comments on the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

This research was funded by Major International (Regional) Joint Research Project of NSFC (Grant No. 31110103910). The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.