A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny
The taxonomic history of Euryoryzomys legatus has been complex and controversial, being either included in the synonymy of other oryzomyine species or considered as a valid species, as in the most recent review of the genus. Previous phylogenetic analyses segregated E. legatus from E. russatus, its...
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PeerJ Inc.
2020-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/9884.pdf |
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| author | Mariana D. Guilardi Pablo Jayat Marcelo Weksler James L. Patton Pablo Edmundo Ortiz Keila Almeida Maria José de J. Silva |
| author_facet | Mariana D. Guilardi Pablo Jayat Marcelo Weksler James L. Patton Pablo Edmundo Ortiz Keila Almeida Maria José de J. Silva |
| author_sort | Mariana D. Guilardi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The taxonomic history of Euryoryzomys legatus has been complex and controversial, being either included in the synonymy of other oryzomyine species or considered as a valid species, as in the most recent review of the genus. Previous phylogenetic analyses segregated E. legatus from E. russatus, its putative senior synonym, but recovered it nested within E. nitidus. A general lack of authoritative evaluation of morphological attributes, details of the chromosome complement, or other data types has hampered the ability to choose among alternative taxonomic hypotheses, and thus reach a general consensus for the status of the taxon. Herein we revisit the status of E. legatus using an integrated approach that includes: (1) a morphological review, especially centered on specimens from northwestern Argentina not examined previously, (2) comparative cytogenetics, and (3) phylogenetic reconstruction, using mitochondrial genes. Euryoryzomys legatus is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from all other species-level taxa in the genus, but its 2n=80, FN=86 karyotype is shared with E. emmonsae, E. nitidus, and E. russatus. Several morphological and morphometric characters distinguish E. legatus from other species of Euryoryzomys, and we provide an amended diagnosis for the species. Morphological characters useful in distinguishing E. legatus from E. nitidus, its sister taxon following molecular analyses, include: larger overall size, dorsal fur with a strong yellowish brown to orange brown tinge, flanks and cheeks with an orange lateral line, ventral color grayish-white with pure white hairs present only on the chin, presence of a thin blackish eye-ring, tail bicolored, presence of an alisphenoid strut and a well-developed temporal and lambdoid crests in the skull, and a labial cingulum on M3. Molecular phylogenetic analyses recovered E. legatus as a monophyletic group with high support nested within a paraphyletic E. nitidus; genetic distances segregated members of both species, except for an exemplar of E. nitidus. Our integrated analyses reinforce E. legatus as a full species, but highlight that E. macconnelli, E. emmonsae, and E. nitidus each may be a species complex and worthy of systematic attention. Finally, we also evaluated the chromosome evolution of the genus within a phylogenetic context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:36:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-820caaae1c83457f95fe2f3a9ab2c128 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:36:16Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-820caaae1c83457f95fe2f3a9ab2c1282023-12-03T10:57:02ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592020-10-018e988410.7717/peerj.9884A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogenyMariana D. Guilardi0Pablo Jayat1Marcelo Weksler2James L. Patton3Pablo Edmundo Ortiz4Keila Almeida5Maria José de J. Silva6Laboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUnidad Ejecutora Lillo, CONICET- Fundación Miguel Lillo, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, ArgentinaSetor de Mastozoologia, Departamento de Vertebrados, Museu Nacional / Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilMuseum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, United States of AmericaCátedra de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales and Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, ArgentinaSuperintendência da Polícia Técnico-Cientifica, Núcleo de Perícias em Crimes Contra Pessoa, Instituto de Criminalística, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratório de Ecologia e Evolução, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilThe taxonomic history of Euryoryzomys legatus has been complex and controversial, being either included in the synonymy of other oryzomyine species or considered as a valid species, as in the most recent review of the genus. Previous phylogenetic analyses segregated E. legatus from E. russatus, its putative senior synonym, but recovered it nested within E. nitidus. A general lack of authoritative evaluation of morphological attributes, details of the chromosome complement, or other data types has hampered the ability to choose among alternative taxonomic hypotheses, and thus reach a general consensus for the status of the taxon. Herein we revisit the status of E. legatus using an integrated approach that includes: (1) a morphological review, especially centered on specimens from northwestern Argentina not examined previously, (2) comparative cytogenetics, and (3) phylogenetic reconstruction, using mitochondrial genes. Euryoryzomys legatus is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from all other species-level taxa in the genus, but its 2n=80, FN=86 karyotype is shared with E. emmonsae, E. nitidus, and E. russatus. Several morphological and morphometric characters distinguish E. legatus from other species of Euryoryzomys, and we provide an amended diagnosis for the species. Morphological characters useful in distinguishing E. legatus from E. nitidus, its sister taxon following molecular analyses, include: larger overall size, dorsal fur with a strong yellowish brown to orange brown tinge, flanks and cheeks with an orange lateral line, ventral color grayish-white with pure white hairs present only on the chin, presence of a thin blackish eye-ring, tail bicolored, presence of an alisphenoid strut and a well-developed temporal and lambdoid crests in the skull, and a labial cingulum on M3. Molecular phylogenetic analyses recovered E. legatus as a monophyletic group with high support nested within a paraphyletic E. nitidus; genetic distances segregated members of both species, except for an exemplar of E. nitidus. Our integrated analyses reinforce E. legatus as a full species, but highlight that E. macconnelli, E. emmonsae, and E. nitidus each may be a species complex and worthy of systematic attention. Finally, we also evaluated the chromosome evolution of the genus within a phylogenetic context.https://peerj.com/articles/9884.pdfNeotropicsRodentsCricetidaeOryzomyiniKaryotypeMorphology |
| spellingShingle | Mariana D. Guilardi Pablo Jayat Marcelo Weksler James L. Patton Pablo Edmundo Ortiz Keila Almeida Maria José de J. Silva A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny PeerJ Neotropics Rodents Cricetidae Oryzomyini Karyotype Morphology |
| title | A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny |
| title_full | A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny |
| title_fullStr | A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny |
| title_full_unstemmed | A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny |
| title_short | A review of Euryoryzomys legatus (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae): morphological redescription, cytogenetics, and molecular phylogeny |
| title_sort | review of euryoryzomys legatus rodentia sigmodontinae morphological redescription cytogenetics and molecular phylogeny |
| topic | Neotropics Rodents Cricetidae Oryzomyini Karyotype Morphology |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/9884.pdf |
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