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Molecular Systematics and Phylogeny of the Reduncini (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) Inferred from the Analysis of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences

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Abstract

The evolutionary relationships within the bovid tribe Reduncini were investigated by comparing complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) among 11 extant taxa. With a few exceptions, the molecular data are in agreement with previous morphologically-based studies. Based on our cytochrome b data, the kob and puku are only 0.3% divergent, suggesting that the species level status of the puku is questionable. Bootstrap analyses and the likelihood ratio test support a sister relationship of the waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) to the kob (K. kob) and puku (K. vardoni) clade rather than a possible sister relationship with the lechwe (K. leche) and Nile lechwe (K. megaceros) clade suggested by morphological investigations. We also investigated the affinity of the vaal rhebuck (Pelea capreolus) to the reduncines. Our data do not resolve the placement of the vaal rhebuck among the reduncines. The data support the currently designated subspecies of the waterbuck (K. e. ellipsiprymnus and K.e. defassa) and the lechwe (K.l. leche, K.l. kafuensis and K.l. smithemani), the descriptions of which have been based essentially on morphology and geographic distribution. We detected nuclear homologs of mitochondrial genes and suggest that critical sequence analysis is of importance to avoid erroneous interpretations of mitochondrial phylogenies.

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  1. J. Birungi

    Present address: Makerere University Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 10066, Kampala, Uganda

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  1. Zoological Institute, Department of Population Biology, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark

    J. Birungi & P. Arctander

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Birungi, J., Arctander, P. Molecular Systematics and Phylogeny of the Reduncini (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) Inferred from the Analysis of Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene Sequences. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 8, 125–147 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1011369914909

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