title: Taxonomic status and origin of the Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) inferred from mitochondrial DNA.
abstract: The Egyptian weasel (Mustela subpalmata) is a small mustelid with a distribution restricted to the lower Nile Valley and the Nile Delta. Traditionally considered a subspecies of the least weasel (M. nivalis), it is currently recognized as a separate species based on morphology. Here we present the first genetic assessment of the taxonomic status of the Egyptian weasel by comparing mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome b gene and control region) sequences to those of least weasels from the western Palearctic, with a focus on the Mediterranean region. Our results provide no evidence to support the view that the Egyptian weasel is genetically distinct from the least weasel, as we found that, for both Cytochrome b and control region, haplotypes were shared between the two taxa. Specifically, the Cytochrome b and control region haplotypes detected in the Egyptian weasel were also present in M. nivalis from Turkey and Malta, two populations genetically analysed here for the first time. Our results suggest that the Egyptian weasel is distinct from the least weasel populations currently living in the Maghreb, which were inferred to be the result of an earlier colonization of North Africa, but the genetic data alone do not allow us to determine whether the Egyptian weasel is native or introduced. Nevertheless, the observed genetic patterns, together with the weasel fossil record in Israel and the unique commensal lifestyle of the Egyptian weasel, are consistent with the hypothesis that the Egyptian population is a relict of past range expansion from the Levant into Egypt. We suggest that the large size and characteristic sexual dimorphism of the Egyptian weasel are likely to represent ecotypic variation, but genomic studies are required to clarify the extent of its functional genetic divergence.
authors.affiliation: CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal. marodrigues@fc.ul.pt.|Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. marodrigues@fc.ul.pt.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: The American University in Cairo, PO Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.|Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arthur R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.affiliation: The American University in Cairo, PO Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoath
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schembri
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum of Crete, University of Crete, 71409, Iráklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lymberakis
authors.affiliation: SROPU Bird Observation and Protection Station of Rome, 00165, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cento
authors.affiliation: Service of Medical Epidemiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis-Belvédère, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Wissem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ghawar
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Ahi Evran University, Kırşehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sakir O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ozkurt
authors.affiliation: CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos-Reis
authors.affiliation: Ecological Genetics Research Unit, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merilä
authors.affiliation: CE3C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004534:Egypt; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000235:genetics*; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D045303:Cytochromes b
keywords: Mitochondrial DNA; Molecular systematics; Mustela subpalmata; Phylogeography; Species status; Weasels