Phylogenetic analysis of the five-toed Jerboa (Rodentia) from the Iranian Plateau based on mtDNA and morphometric data

The genus Allactaga is a group of rodents with five morphospecies distributed in the Iranian plateau. In order to conduct a taxonomic revision at the species level, 27individuals were collected in the Iranian plateau from localities typical of each species. Phylogenetic relationships within species were analyzed using cytochrome oxidasesubunit I and morphometric data. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis demonstrated that Hotson´s Jerboa and the Iranian Jerboa are identical,with very low molecular divergence. This was confirmed by biometrical analyses of cranial and dental characteristics. Both molecular and morphometric analyses separatedthe small five-toed Jerboa from the other species. In the phylogenetic tree and haplotype network, the taxonomic situation of the Toussi Jerboa as a new species is prominent, as had been concluded by morphometric data.

Keywords:

Cytochrome oxidase subunit I , taxonomy , morphometry , Allactaga