Abstract
Modern systematics can now rely on powerful discriminating techniques, such as cytogenetics. As a result, a growing number of sibling species has been described in a variety of taxa. Among mammals, this is particularly true in rodents. Here, we describe a new species of Taterillus (Rodentia, Gerbillinae), namely Taterillus tranieri sp. n. based on specimens from Mali and Mauritania. Neither external and cranial morphology nor morphometrics taking size and shape into account could lead to a satisfying diagnosis of this species relative to the four West African species known in this genus. Conversely, this new species could be characterized by a very specific karyotype (with 2N = 14/15, the lowest diploid number in gerbilline rodents, NFa = 22-24) differing from that of its closest relative Taterillus petteri (2N = 18/19, NFa = 28) by two tandem translocations accompanied by 2 centromere activations/desactivations, one non reciprocal translocation, and three pericentric inversions. In addition to providing non-ambiguous arguments in favour of the description of this taxon as a new biological species, these chromosomal results confirm the complex karyoty-pic evolution of Taterillus. Furthermore, this study illustrates how cytogenetics can contribute to the description of sibling species and hence to biodiversity. These cryptic taxa also constitute valuable support for evolutionary studies, especially concerning speciation processes. They also represent important issues in applied research such as in conservation biology or pest species control. The routine use of cytogenetics for species characterization will undoubtedly constitute a powerful diagnostic tool in these contexts.
Zusammenfassung
Jetzt kann die moderne Systematik sich auf Leistungsfähige Techniken wie die Cytogenetik gründen, und infolgedessen wurde eine zunehmende Anzahl neuer Zwillingsarten in vielen Taxa beschrieben. Unter den Säugetieren trifft dieses besonders für die Nagetiere zu. Hier beschreiben wir eine neue, auf Material von Mali und Mauritanien begründete Art der Gattung Taterillus (Rodentia, Gerbillinae), T. tranieri sp. n. Weder äußere noch Schädelmorphologie oder Morphometrien, die die Größe und Körperform erfassen, konnten zu einer befriedigenden Diagnose dieser Art im Vergleich mit vier anderen west-afrikanischen Arten der Gattung führen. Im Gegenteil konnte diese neue Art aber durch einen sehr spezifischen Karyotyp (mit 2N = 14/15) charakterisiert werden. Dieser Karyotyp hat die kleinste diploide Anzahl unter den Gerbillinen (NFa = 22-24), und ist von demjenigen seines nähesten Verwandten Taterillus petteri (2N = 18–19, NFa = 28) zu unterscheiden durch zwei Tandemtranslokationen, die von 2 centromeren Aktivationen/Desaktivationen begleitet sind, einer nichtreziproken Translokation, und drei pericentrischen Inversionen. Diese chromosomalen Ergebnisse bieten eindeutige Argumente für die Beschreibung dieses Taxon als eine neue biologische Art und weisen auf die komplexe karyotypische Evolution der Gattung Taterillus hin. Darüber hinaus veranschaulicht diese Arbeit auch wie die Cytogenetik zu der Beschreibung von Zwillingsarten, und folglich der Biodiversität, beitragen kann. Diese kryptischen Taxa liefern auch einen wertvollen Beitrag für Studien zur Evolution, auch ein wertvolles Material für Entwicklungsstudien, besonders im Hinblick auf Artbildungsprozesse. Sie sind auch wichtig für angewandte Forschung wie Schutzbiologie oder Schädlingsbekämpfung. Die Routineanwendung der Cytogenetik zur Erkennung von Arten wird sicherlich ein mächtiges diagnostisches Instrument in diesem Zusammenhang ausmachen.
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Dobigny, G., Granjon, L., Aniskin, V. et al. A new sibling species of Taterillus (Muridae, Gerbillinae) from West Africa. Mamm Biol 68, 299–316 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1078/1616-5047-00098
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1078/1616-5047-00098