Molecular phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the sportive lemurs (Lepilemur, Primates).
BACKGROUND
The number of species within the Malagasy genus Lepilemur and their phylogenetic relationships is disputed and controversial. In order to establish their evolutionary relationships, a comparative cytogenetic and molecular study was performed. We sequenced the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) from 68 individuals representing all eight sportive lemur species and most major populations, and compared the results with those obtained from cytogenetic studies derived from 99 specimens.


RESULTS
Interspecific genetic variation, diagnostic characters and significantly supported phylogenetic relationships were obtained from the mitochondrial sequence data and are in agreement with cytogenetic information. The results confirm the distinctiveness of Lepilemur ankaranensis, L. dorsalis, L. edwardsi, L. leucopus, L. microdon, L. mustelinus, L. ruficaudatus and L. septentrionalis on species level. Additionally, within L. ruficaudatus large genetic differences were observed among different geographic populations. L. dorsalis from Sahamalaza Peninsula and from the Ambanja/Nosy Be region are paraphyletic, with the latter forming a sister group to L. ankaranensis.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support the classification of the eight major sportive lemur taxa as independent species. Moreover, our data indicate further cryptic speciation events within L. ruficaudatus and L. dorsalis. Based on molecular data we propose to recognize the sportive lemur populations from north of the Tsiribihina River, south of the Betsiboka River, and from the Sahamalaza Peninsula, as distinct species.
Andriaholinirina
Nicole
N
Institut d'Embryologie, Université Louis Pasteur, Faculté de Médecine-EA3428, 11 rue Humann, 67085 Strasbourg, France. nicole-ludes@netcourrier.com
Fausser
Jean-Luc
JL
Roos
Christian
C
Zinner
Dietmar
D
Thalmann
Urs
U
Rabarivola
Clément
C
Ravoarimanana
Iary
I
Ganzhorn
Jörg U
JU
Meier
Bernhard
B
Hilgartner
Roland
R
Walter
Lutz
L
Zaramody
Alphonse
A
Langer
Christoph
C
Hahn
Thomas
T
Zimmermann
Elke
E
Radespiel
Ute
U
Craul
Mathias
M
Tomiuk
Jürgen
J
Tattersall
Ian
I
Rumpler
Yves
Y
D000818:Animals; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D007901:Lemuridae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D045303:Cytochromes b