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  • Molecular data from the holotype of the enigmatic Bornean Black Shrew, Suncus ater Medway, 1965 (Soricidae, Crocidurinae), place it in the genus Palawanosorex
Title: Molecular data from the holotype of the enigmatic Bornean Black Shrew, Suncus ater Medway, 1965 (Soricidae, Crocidurinae), place it in the genus Palawanosorex
Although Borneo has received more attention from biologists than most other islands in the Malay Archipelago, many questions regarding the systematic relationships of Bornean mammals remain. Using next-generation sequencing technology, we obtained mitochondrial DNA sequences from the holotype ofSuncus ater, the only known specimen of this shrew. Several shrews collected recently in Sarawak are closely aligned, both morphologically and mitochondrially, with the holotype ofS. ater. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial sequences indicate that theS. aterholotype and new Sarawak specimens do not belong to the genusSuncus, but instead are most closely related toPalawanosorex muscorum. Until nowPalawanosorexhas been known only from the neighboring Philippine island of Palawan. Additional sequences from nuclear ultra-conserved elements from the new Sarawak specimens strongly support a sister relationship toP. muscorum. We therefore transferatertoPalawanosorex. The new specimens demonstrate thatP. ateris more widespread in northern Borneo than previously recorded. Continued sampling of Bornean mammal diversity and reexamination of type material are critical in understanding the evolutionary history of the biologically rich Malay Archipelago.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
2010756 1754393
PAR ID:
10502046
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Zookeys
Date Published:
Journal Name:
ZooKeys
Volume:
1137
ISSN:
1313-2989
Page Range / eLocation ID:
17 to 31
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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