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Molecular Phylogeny of Tuco-Tucos, Genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Octodontidae): Evaluation of the mendocinus Species Group and the Evolution of Asymmetric Sperm

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Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships among 23 individuals representing 14 species of underground hystricognath rodents of the genus Ctenomys were studied by analyzing variation of complete cytochrome b gene sequences. Maximum parsimony, neighbor joining, and maximum likelihood analyses were performed, using the octodontine genera Octodon and Tympanoctomys as outgroups. Our analyses support previous studies based on chromosomes and skull morphology that suggested a clade comprised of Argentinean and Uruguayan populations of C. rionegrensis. This clade is closely related to one comprised of C. flamarioni and the C. mendocinus species complex. Our analyses provide evidence that the symmetric sperm morph, which is common to other South American hystricognath rodents, is the plesiomorphic character state in Ctenomys and in Hystricognathi. Our analyses do not support the hypothesis that the sperm morphs define two major lineages of tuco-tuco species, because species with asymmetric sperm are diphyletic on the basis of cytochrome b sequences, and this morphology appears to have evolved twice in Ctenomys.

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Author notes

  1. Guillermo D'Elía

    Present address: The University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, 1109 Geddes, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-1079

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias, Laboratorio de Evolución, Casilla 12106, Montevideo, 11300, Uruguay

    Guillermo D'Elía & Enrique P. Lessa

  2. University of Alaska Museum and Institute of Arctic Biology, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99775-6960

    Joseph A. Cook

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  1. Guillermo D'Elía
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  2. Enrique P. Lessa
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  3. Joseph A. Cook
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Correspondence to Guillermo D'Elía.

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D'Elía, G., Lessa, E.P. & Cook, J.A. Molecular Phylogeny of Tuco-Tucos, Genus Ctenomys (Rodentia: Octodontidae): Evaluation of the mendocinus Species Group and the Evolution of Asymmetric Sperm. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 6, 19–38 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020586229342

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