Duane A. Schlitter

Allozyme variation and systematics of African mole-rats (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)

Patterns of allozyme variation were examined within and among eight taxa representing the five genera of endemic African mole-rats of the family Bathergidae. Populations of Georychus capensis and Cryptomys hottentotus exhibited greater degrees of intraspecific allozyme divergence than did populations of Cryptomys damarensis, Bathyergus suillus, or Heliophobius argenteocinereus. Past climatic cycles may have affected bathyergid genera differentially, resulting in the current differences among taxa in patterns of allozyme variation. Analyses of allozyme variation among genera consistently placed Heterocephalus glaber at the base of the bathyergid radiation. However, allozyme data did not resolve phylogenetic relationships among the remaining four mole-rat genera, suggesting that bathyergid genera may represent lineages of ancient origin. Phylogenetic relationships among genera may be difficult to determine due to the levels of genetic change that have accumulated within each lineage. Allozyme variation among genera, in conjunction with mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequence data, lead to the conclusion that a revision in the taxonomy of the family Bathyergidae is warranted. We suggest that the naked mole-rat, Heterocephalus glaber, be placed in the subfamily Heterocephalinae, whereas the remaining four bathyergid genera be placed in the subfamily Bathyerginae.

Genetic relationships among eight species of Eptesicus and Pipistrellus (Chiroptera : vespertilionidae)

Genetic relationships among eight species of Eptesicus and Pipistrellus were analyzed by use of horizontal starch-gel electrophoresis. It has been suggested that a 2n = 50 and FN = 48 karyotype defines the genus Eptesicus , and that related forms of differing karyotype should be placed in the genus Pipistrellus . Three species of Eptesicus with 2n = 50 and FN = 48, three species with lower diploid numbers, and two species of Pipistrellus were assayed in this study. The results show that the species of Eptesicus with 2n = 50 and FN = 48 form a homogeneous group with high similarity values, despite the included taxa coming from two continents. Species with lower diploid number show a lesser degree of similarity.

A genic comparison of spiny mice, genus Acomys

Electrophoretic analyses of eight taxa of Acomys from eastern and southern Africa and the Near East indicate that significant biochemical evolution has occurred among the taxa examined. Acomys subspinosus and A. spinosissimus from southern Africa were allozymically distinct from one another and from other taxa of Acomys . A. russatus was distinct from other taxa that occur in northern Africa and the Near East. A. percivali , previously included in the cahirinus species group, is a valid species genically most similar to A. wilsoni . A. kempi and A. ignitus are distinct from each other and from A. cahirinus .

Biochemical systematics of elephant shrews from Southern Africa

Abstract The biochemical systematics of seven species of elephant shrews from southern Africa, based on allozyme variation and chromosomal analyses, was examined and compared to phylogenies based on morphological analyses. In addition, populations within three species, Elephantulus intufi , E. rupestris and E. myurus , were analysed for intrapopulational genetic variation. Both genetic and morphological data sets showed that all five species of Elephantulus examined were more closely related to each other than to either Petrodromus tetradactylus or Macroscelides proboscideus , but relationships within the Elephantulus differed among data sets. Genetic identify values indicated considerable divergence among species. Standard karyotypes showed 2 N = 30 for E. myurus , 2 N = 28 for P. tetradactylus and 2 N = 26 for the other five species. Levels of genetic heterozygosity ranged from 0.0 to 7.4%

Mammals of Africa (Vol. I-VI.)

Kingdon, J., D. Happold, T. Butynski, M. Hoffmann, M. Happold, and J. Kalina (eds.). 2013. Mammals of Africa (6 volumes). Bloomsbury Publishing, London, United Kingdom, 3,720 pp. Price (hardbound),

Karyotypic data and attendant systematic implications for the bats of southern Africa

940.00. Kingdon, J., D. Happold, M. Hoffmann, T. Butynski, M. Happold, and J. Kalina (eds.). 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume I: Introductory Chapters and Afrotheria. Bloomsbury Publishing, London United Kingdom, 351 pp. ISBN-978-1-4081-2251-8 (print); ISBN-978-1-4081-8990-1 (epdf). Butynski, T. M., J. Kingdon, and J. Kalina (eds.). 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume II: Primates. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, United Kingdom, 556 pp. ISBN-978-1-4081-2252-5 (print); ISBN-978-1-4081-8991-7 (epdf). Happold, D. C. D. (ed.). 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume III: Rodents, Hares and Rabbits. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, United Kingdom, 789 pp. ISBN-978-1-4081-2253-2 (print); ISBN-978-1-4081-8992-4 (epdf). Happold, M., and D. C. D. Happold (eds.). 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume IV: Hedgehogs, Shrews and Bats. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, United Kingdom, 800 pp. ISBN-978-1-4081-2254-9 (print); ISBN-978-1-4081-8993-1(epdf). Kingdon, J., and M. Hoffmann (eds.). 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume V: Carnivores, Pangolins, Equids and Rhinoceroses. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, United Kingdom, 544 pp. ISBN-978-1-4081-2255-6 (print); ISBN-978-1-4081-8994-8 (epdf). Kingdon, J., and M. Hoffmann (eds.). 2013. Mammals of Africa. Volume VI: Pigs, Hippopotamuses, Chevrotain, Giraffes, Deer and Bovids. Bloomsbury Publishing, London, United Kingdom, 680 pp. ISBN-978-1-4081-2256-3 (print); ISBN-978-1-4081-8995-5 (epdf).