title: Molecular evidence revealed Lepus hainanus and L. peguensis have a conspecific relationship.
abstract: Accurate species delimitation in Lepus was often hindered by highly conserved morphology and frequent introgression. In this study, we used rigorous molecular species delimitation methods to evaluate the taxonomic status of Hainan hare (Lepus hainanus) which has been traditionally identified as a distinct species, or a subspecies of Burmese hare (L. peguensis). The genetic distance and phylogenetic network support L. hainanus and L. peguensis are conspecific. However, the phylogenetic species concept and Bayesian species delimitation analysis based on combined mtDNA supported they are different species. The discordance between different methods can be explained by different species criterion. By taking into account our conflict results, we hold the opinion that adoption of the phylogenetic species concept and Bayesian species delimitation analysis would increase the risk of taxonomic inflation of island biota or otherwise spatially isolated population. Conservatively, we suggest that L. hainanus and L. peguensis are conspecific based on the results of our genetic divergence and phylogenetic network exclusively.
authors.affiliation: a Marine College, Shandong University , Weihai , China .
authors.forename: Lingming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.affiliation: b Institute of Tropical Biosciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences , Haikou , China .
authors.forename: Wenquan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: a Marine College, Shandong University , Weihai , China .
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.affiliation: c Department of Zoology , Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources , Hanoi , Vietnam .
authors.forename: Truong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Son Nguyen
authors.affiliation: d Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , China , and.
authors.forename: Qisen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: e College of Life Science, Guangzhou University , Guangzhou , China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: a Marine College, Shandong University , Weihai , China .
authors.forename: Yuchun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002965:Classification; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D034621:Hares / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial
keywords: Lepus hainanus; Lepus peguensis; MGF gene; mitochondrial genes; taxonomy