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The semi-aquatic African murine genera Colomys and Nilopegamys are considered monotypic and thought to be closely related to one another. Colomys occurs across forested regions of equatorial Africa, whereas Nilopegamys is known only from the Ethiopian holotype, making it among the rarest mammalian genera in the world – and possibly extinct. Using morphological and genetic data, we reassess the taxonomy of Colomys and Nilopegamys. A multilocus phylogeny with outgroups demonstrates that Nilopegamys is sister to Colomys. In addition, we recognize at least four morphologically diagnosable and genetically distinct species within Colomys : C. eisentrauti (elevated from subspecies and restricted to north-west Cameroon), C. goslingi (with a more restricted range than previously reported) and two new species (one from Liberia and Guinea and one from central and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo and Angola). We also review the status of four other taxa currently recognized within Colomys goslingi (bicolor , denti , goslingi and ruandensis) and demonstrate that these names lack phylogenetic and/or morphological support. Finally, we discuss potential biogeographic barriers that may have played a role in the evolution of Colomys and Nilopegamys , emphasizing the importance of rivers in both facilitating and, possibly, limiting dispersal within these genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pipistrelloid bats are among the most poorly known bats in Africa, a status no doubt exacerbated by their small size, drab brown fur and general similarity in external morphology. The systematic relationships of these bats have been a matter of debate for decades, and despite some recent molecular studies, much confusion remains. Adding to the confusion has been the recent discovery of numerous new species. Using two mitochondrial genes, we present a phylogeny for this group that supports the existence of three main clades in Africa: Pipistrellus , Neoromicia and the recently described Parahypsugo. However, the basal branches of the tree are poorly supported. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we describe a new species of Pipistrellus sp. nov. from West Africa, which has been cited as Pipistrellus cf. grandidieri in the literature. We demonstrate that it is not closely related to Pipistrellus grandidieri from East Africa, but instead is sister to Pipistrellus hesperidus. Furthermore, the species Pi. grandidieri appears to be embedded in the newly described genus Parahypsugo , and is therefore better placed in that genus than in Pipistrellus. This has important taxonomic implications, because a new subgenus (Afropipistrellus) described for Pi. grandidieri predates Parahypsugo and should therefore be used for the entire " Parahypsugo " clade. The Upper Guinea rainforest zone, and particularly the upland areas in the south-eastern Guinea—northern Liberia border region may represent a global hotspot for pipistrelloid bats and should receive increased conservation focus as a result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The murid rodent Praomys daltoni is widespread in Sudanian savanna and woodlands of West Africa, and previous study of mitochondrial DNA variability suggested that it encompasses the phenotypically (small, grey-bellied) and ecologically (commensal) distinct form, Praomys derooi. Here, we comprehensively examined the genetic and morphological diversity within the complex. Six mitochondrial lineages showed a fine-scale phylogeographical pattern, whereas delimitation based on nuclear loci pooled four of them into a single widespread unit. A newly discovered lineage from southern Mauritania stands apart from the rest of the complex and might represent an unrecognized species. At the same time, the internal position of P. derooi (C2 mitochondrial lineage) was confirmed by the multilocus analysis. The magnitude of genetic distances between major phylogeographical lineages was typical for interspecific divergence in other clades of Praomys , despite the little differences among them in morphology (skull and upper molar row shapes). The most pronounced morphological shift was associated with a transition to commensalism, especially in P. derooi , but also in other lineages. This makes the whole complex a suitable model for the study of phenotypic novelty, the evolution of commensalism and conditions for ecological speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogeographical study of the small five-toed jerboa (Scarturus elater) and examination of the phylogenetic position of S. vinogradovi were performed using the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene and fragments of the BRCA1 and IRBP nuclear genes. Phylogenetic analysis of the cytb data including 115 specimens of S. elater from 47 localities across the species range revealed the existence of three highly divergent (10–11.3%) genetic clades: North (N), South (S) and South-West (SW). The N and S clades are well supported by nuclear genes and occur in sympatry across a large part of the range south of the Aral Sea. We found no trace of admixture between these clades, which suggests their reproductive isolation. We detected no morphological differences in the skull or glans penis between these two lineages, which we consider to represent an intriguing example of cryptic species. Given the reciprocal monophyly and deep genetic divergence, the SW lineage also deserves full species rank. The data indicate that S. vinogradovi is not a close relative of S. elater. It is placed as a separate deep branch in a clade also containing S. elater s.l. and S. williamsi + S. euphratica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2007 survey of small mammals on Mt. Mantalingahan (2,086 m elevation), southern Palawan Island, Philippines, obtained specimens of a distinctive, previously unknown shrew (Soricidae). We describe these specimens as representing a new, monotypic genus and species, Palawanosorex muscorum. The new species was common on Mt. Mantalingahan from 1,550 to 1,950 m (near the peak) but was not detected from 700 to 1,300 m elevation. The previously known native, syntopic shrew, Crocidura palawanensis, has a slender body, slender fore and hind feet, and a long, thin tail with a few long bristles. In contrast, the new species has a stout body, broad fore feet, long claws, and a short tail covered by short, dense fur but no bristles. The dental formula traditionally used would result in assignment of the new species to Suncus, but several distinctive external and cranial features are present, and phylogenetic analyses of thousands of ultraconserved elements suggest P. muscorum is sister to most other Crocidurinae, a clade represented throughout Southeast Asia but numerically dominated by African species. The new species is a distant relative of Suncus murinus (the type species of Suncus) and all other known Southeast Asian species, including the only other shrew known to occur on Palawan (Crocidura batakorum). A time-calibrated phylogenetic analysis estimates divergence between Palawanosorex and its closest known relatives at approximately 10 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assess morphological and multilocus genetic variation among 11 isolated montane populations of white-toothed shrews from Tanzania that have been referred to either Crocidura monax Thomas or C. montis Thomas. The montane sites we sampled represent 'sky-islands' from two geologically distinct archipelagos ( Northern Highlands and the Eastern Arc Mountains) and are a significant component of the Eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot. We used multivariate analyses of morphometric traits and phylogenetic and species-delimitation analyses of multilocus DNA sequence data to assess species-level diversity. Our species delimitation analyses included a novel, pairwise validation approach that avoids potential biases associated with specifying a guide tree. These analyses reveal several distinct lineages, which we treat as six allopatric species. Each species is restricted to one, two or four mountains. We use available names to recognize C. monax, C. tansaniana Hutterer and C. usambarae Dippenaar, while naming and describing three new species. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of combining morphological and genetic data to uncover and describe hidden diversity in a cryptic mammalian system. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the effect of Pleistocene climatic changes on the biodiversity of European mammals mostly comes from phylogeographical studies of non-subterranean mammals, whereas the influence of glaciation cycles on subterranean mammals has received little attention. The lack of data raises the question of how and to what extent the current amount and distribution of genetic variation in subterranean mammals is the result of Pleistocene range contractions/expansions. The common mole ( Talpa europaea) is a strictly subterranean mammal, widespread across Europe, and represents one of the best candidates for studying the influence of Quaternary climatic oscillation on subterranean mammals. Cytochrome b sequences, as obtained from a sampling covering the majority of the distribution area, were used to evaluate whether Pleistocene climate change influenced the evolution of T. europaea and left a trace in the genetic diversity comparable to that observed in non-subterranean small mammals. Subsequently, we investigated the occurrence of glacial refugia by comparing the results of phylogeographical analysis with species distribution modelling. We found three differentiated mitochondrial DNA lineages: two restricted to Spain and Italy and a third that was widespread across Europe. Phylogenetic inferences and the molecular clock suggest that the Spanish moles represent a highly divergent and ancient lineage, highlighting for the first time the paraphyly of T. europaea. Furthermore, our analyses suggest that the genetic break between the Italian and the European lineages predates the last glacial phase. Historical demography and spatial principal component analysis further suggest that the Last Glacial Maximum left a signature both in the Italian and in the European lineages. Genetic data combined with species distribution models support the presence of at least three putative glacial refugia in southern Europe ( France, Balkan Peninsula and Black Sea) during thelast glacial maximum that likely contributed to post-glacial recolonization of Europe. By contrast, the Italian lineage remained trapped in the Italian peninsula and, according to the pattern observed in other subterranean mammals, did not contribute to the recolonization of northern latitudes. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 114, 495-512. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-trees are commonly calibrated based on fossils attributed to internal nodes, thus defining the minimum age of these nodes. However, in the absence of synapomorphies, the phylogenetic position of a fossil can only be inferred based on similarity. In this study, we objectively allocated fossil shells to internal nodes based on the reconstruction of ancestral shapes and sizes in a geometric morphometric framework. Our phylogenetic analysis of 24 (putative sub)species was based on 2524 amplified fragment length polymorphism loci. In this well-supported tree the taxa occurring in north-west Africa and on the Iberian peninsula were paraphyletic with respect to the (sub)species from the Canary and Selvagen Islands, indicating a continental origin of the genus in contrast to our earlier sequence-based account. Ancestral shell shapes and sizes were inferred based on landmark data using squared-change parsimony. In a subsequent principal component analysis, only three of 20 fossil shells could be unequivocally allocated to internal nodes. However, these fossils were all Quaternary, and thus too young to infer meaningfully narrow confidence intervals for divergence estimates that probably reach back into the Miocene or even Oligocene. The apparent failure of allocating older fossils to internal nodes and achieving a reliable tree calibration was caused by the absence of phylogenetic signal in the shells of Theba due to extensive, sometimes rapid, convergent evolution, including reversals. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ecomorphological approach of mandible shape through Fourier analyses combined with a paleodietary analysis of dental microwear patterns is used to reconstruct the diet of the extinct endemic Canariomys bravoi Crusafont, Pairó & Petter, 1964 and Canariomys tamarani López-Martínez & López-Jurado, 1987. These two large rodents, respectively, lived on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the central islands of the Canarian Archipelago. Mandible shape and dental microwear respectively inform us on the volume of vegetal matter and on the presence of grass in the diet. Both Canariomys, which are of similar size, possess relatively similar mandible outlines and microwear patterns. For each species, a diet based on plant materials except grass is the most likely. Such results chime with the similar environments offered by the islands in which the species lived. On the contrary, molar morphology suggests different feeding habits of the two Canariomys. Thus, this suggests a case of mosaic evolution between teeth and mandibles, as well as the likely sensitivity of mandible shape to a combination of ecological and allometric factors. These new data obtained from the fossil record underline the propensity of island endemic mammals to yield surprising examples of phenotypic evolution. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 101, 28–40. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five new species of land snail (family Enidae) are described from La Gomera (Canary Islands) of which the majority, on the basis of anatomy alone, could be incorporated within a new supraspecific taxon. In addition to the morphological study of these new species, a region of the 16S mitochondrial gene is sequenced from three of the new species and a range of species of Napaeus from within its two subgenera ( Napaeinus and Napaeus) . There is a disparity between the morphological and preliminary molecular phylogenetic data. Possible explanations for this conflict are discussed, as well as the evolutionary relationships among these different taxa, and it is suggested that this group may be an excellent model for further studies of adaptation and diversification. © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2006, 89, 169–187. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]