Mitochondrial and nuclear markers suggest Hanuman langur (Primates: Colobinae) polyphyly: implications for their species status.
Recent molecular studies on langurs of the Indian subcontinent suggest that the widely-distributed and morphologically variable Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) are polyphyletic with respect to Nilgiri and purple-faced langurs. To further investigate this scenario, we have analyzed additional sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b as well as nuclear protamine P1 genes from these species. The results confirm Hanuman langur polyphyly in the mitochondrial tree and the nuclear markers suggest that the Hanuman langurs share protamine P1 alleles with Nilgiri and purple-faced langurs. We recommend provisional splitting of the so-called Hanuman langurs into three species such that the taxonomy is consistent with their evolutionary relationships.
Karanth
K Praveen
KP
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India. karanth@ces.iisc.ernet.in
Singh
Lalji
L
Stewart
Caro-Beth
CB
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D016673:Colobinae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005819:Genetic Markers; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D007194:India; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011479:Protamines / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005819:Genetic Markers; D011479:Protamines; C046533:protamine P1; D045303:Cytochromes b