Biochemical systematics of elephant shrews from Southern Africa

Abstract

The biochemical systematics of seven species of elephant shrews from southern Africa, based on allozyme variation and chromosomal analyses, was examined and compared to phylogenies based on morphological analyses. In addition, populations within three species, Elephantulus intufi, E. rupestris and E. myurus, were analysed for intrapopulational genetic variation. Both genetic and morphological data sets showed that all five species of Elephantulus examined were more closely related to each other than to either Petrodromus tetradactylus or Macroscelides proboscideus, but relationships within the Elephantulus differed among data sets. Genetic identify values indicated considerable divergence among species. Standard karyotypes showed 2N = 30 for E. myurus, 2N = 28 for P. tetradactylus and 2N = 26 for the other five species. Levels of genetic heterozygosity ranged from 0.0 to 7.4%.

Department(s)

Biology

Document Type

Article

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(89)90016-1

Keywords

allozyme variation, elephant shrews, Elephantulus, Macroscelidea, Macroscelides, Petrodromus, standard karyotypes

Publication Date

7-28-1989

Journal Title

Biochemical Systematics and Ecology

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