title: Mitochondrial COII gene sequences provide new insights into the phylogeny of marmoset species groups (Callitrichidae, Primates).
abstract: Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II (COII) gene sequences (549 base pairs) were used to investigate the taxonomic relationships among 12 marmoset (Callithrix, Cebuella and Mico) taxa. A large number of substitutions were found in the third base codon positions, providing a strong phylogenetic signal in a gene coding a conserved protein. Despite the significant affinity between the 2 Amazonian genera Cebuella and Mico, found in recent molecular studies, the analysis presented here did not resolve convincingly the phylogenetic relationships between the 3 genera. Mico nevertheless formed 3 distinct clades, reflecting a basic division of species groups based on geographic distribution (east or west of the Rio Tapajós) rather than morphology (presence or absence of auricular hair). This supports the taxonomic distinction of the allopatric emiliae forms. In Callithrix, Callithrix aurita forms a distinct clade, but the remaining morphotypes form a somewhat contradictory cluster, possibly resulting from an extremely rapid radiation.
authors.affiliation: DNA Polymorphism Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil. sena@interconect.com.br
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sena
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vallinoto
authors.forename: Iracilda
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.forename: Horacio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Maria Paula Cruz
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002143:Callitrichinae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011157:Population Dynamics; D016415:Sequence Alignment
chemical_list: D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV