Phylogenetic relationships of extant zokors (Myospalacinae) (Rodentia, Spalacidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Abstract

In this study, we use three mitochondrial markers, cytochrome b gene (Cyt b), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4) and control region (D-loop) to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of extant zokor species in Mysopalacinae. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on Cyt b strongly supports the monophyly genera Eospalax and Myospalax with E. fontanierii being the most ancient species in Eospalax. Further phylogenetic analyses of four species of Eospalax based on ND4 and D-loop sequences revealed two clades that correspond to two geographical distributions. The basal clade includes E. cansus which is mainly found on Loess Plateau (LP) and another clade including E. baileyi, E. smithii and E. rufescens that inhabits areas above 2000 m on Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) and Qinling Mountains. Geographical events of QTP and LP may have played a major role in the diversification and evolution of Mysopalacinae.

• Eospalax
• mitochondrial DNA
• phylogenetic relationships
• Zokors

Acknowledgements

We thank Sanliang Zhang from the Forest Pest and Disease Control Station of Gansu, for their help with sampling during the fieldwork, Tom Winstanley, Dongru Zhang for assistance in the data analysis and Dr Victor Squires for his comments and English editing of the early draft. We would like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for their critical evaluations and comments on the article.