A phylogenetic estimate for golden moles (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Chrysochloridae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Golden moles (Chrysochloridae) are small, subterranean, afrotherian mammals from South Africa and neighboring regions. Of the 21 species now recognized, some (e.g., Chrysochloris asiatica, Amblysomus hottentotus) are relatively common, whereas others (e.g., species of Chrysospalax, Cryptochloris, Neamblysomus) are rare and endangered. Here, we use a combined analysis of partial sequences of the nuclear GHR gene and morphological characters to derive a phylogeny of species in the family Chrysochloridae.

Results

Although not all nodes of the combined analysis have high support values, the overall pattern of relationships obtained from different methods of phylogeny reconstruction allow us to make several recommendations regarding the current taxonomy of golden moles

SUBMITTER: Asher RJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2850353 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature