title: New insights into samango monkey speciation in South Africa.
abstract: The samango monkey is South Africa's only exclusively forest dwelling primate and represents the southernmost extent of the range of arboreal guenons in Africa. The main threats to South Africa's forests and thus to the samango are linked to increasing land-use pressure and increasing demands for forest resources, resulting in deforestation, degradation and further fragmentation of irreplaceable habitats. The species belongs to the highly polytypic Cercopithecus nictitans group which is sometimes divided into two species C. mitis and C. albogularis. The number of subspecies of C. albogularis is also under debate and is based only on differences in pelage colouration and thus far no genetic research has been undertaken on South African samango monkey populations. In this study we aim to further clarify the number of samango monkey subspecies, as well as their respective distributions in South Africa by combining molecular, morphometric and pelage data. Overall, our study provides the most comprehensive view to date into the taxonomic description of samango monkeys in South Africa. Our data supports the identification of three distinct genetic entities namely; C. a. labiatus, C. a. erythrarchus and C. a. schwarzi and argues for separate conservation management of the distinct genetic entities defined by this study.
authors: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Genetics Department, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors: Desiré L
authors: DL
authors: Dalton
authors: Department of Zoology, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa; SARChI Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve & Core Member of Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors: Birthe
authors: B
authors: Linden
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
authors: Kirsten
authors: K
authors: Wimberger
authors: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Percy FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa.
authors: Lisa Jane
authors: LJ
authors: Nupen
authors: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
authors: Adrian S W
authors: AS
authors: Tordiffe
authors: SARChI Chair on Biodiversity Value & Change in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve & Core Member of Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Mathematical & Natural Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.
authors: Peter John
authors: PJ
authors: Taylor
authors: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: M Thabang
authors: MT
authors: Madisha
authors: National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; Genetics Department, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors: Antoinette
authors: A
authors: Kotze
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002521:Cercopithecus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D017753:Ecosystem; D049810:Genetic Speciation; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D010802:Phylogeny; D011156:Population Density; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial