High diversity of small insectivorous mammals on Qinghai\u2013Tibet Plateau and first description of karyotype for four endemics of China

Vasily D Yakushov,Vladimir S Lebedev,Boris I Sheftel,Yongke Zhu,Yue-Hua Sun,Yun Fang,Svetlana V Pavlova

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-03809-4

Abstract

Among seven species of the order Eulipotyphla (from southern Gansu and northern Sichuan Provinces, Central China) studied cytogenetically, karyotypes of one talpid species, Uropsilus aff. soricipes (2n = 36, NFa = 54), and three soricid species, Chodsigoa hypsibia (2n = 65, NFa = 66), Sorex cansulus (2n = 42, NFa = 64) and Sorex thibetanus (2n = 42, NFa = 60), are described cytogenetically for the first time. All four species are endemic to China with distribution ranges restricted to the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and adjacent mountain ranges. The Ch. hypsibia karyotype consists of mostly acrocentric autosomes and one metacentric pair of autosomes; besides, a B chromosome was identified. No polymorphism was detected among karyotypes of other species, including shrews Sorex bedfordiae (2n = 26, NFa = 44), Anourosorex squamipes (2n = 48, NFa = 92) and Crocidura suaveolens (2n = 40, NFa = 44). The Chinese shrew mole U. aff. soricipes and three shrew species (S. bedfordiae, Ch. hypsibia and A. squamipes) represent autochthonous fauna of Central/Western China, whereas S. thibetanus, S. cansulus and C. suaveolens belong to phylogenetic groups occurring mostly to the north and west from China; therefore, they should be considered relatively recent colonisers. Thus, considering the relationships of the species within phylogenetic groups, our results on karyotypes are in good agreement with molecular genetic data.

Highlights

The territory of China is characterised by high species diversity of insectivorous mammals (Eulipotyphla) including 13 genera of shrews (Soricomorpha), seven genera of moles (Talpomorpha) and six genera of hedgehogs and gymnures (Erinaceomorpha)[1,2,3,4,5,6], some of which are relict representatives of highly divergent ancient lineages (e.g. Uropsilus and Anourosorex)
In Talpidae, the most primitive subfamily Uropsilinae includes a single genus (Uropsilus), which formerly consisted of Uropsilus andersoni, U. gracilis, U. soricipes, U. investigator and U. aequodonenia[20,21]; later, U. nivatus and U. atronates were recognised as valid s pecies[9]
Note that during the description of the karyotype[23], U. nivatus was regarded as a subspecies of U. gracilis[24] but was later elevated to full species r ank[9]

Summary

Introduction

The territory of China is characterised by high species diversity of insectivorous mammals (Eulipotyphla) including 13 genera of shrews (Soricomorpha), seven genera of moles (Talpomorpha) and six genera of hedgehogs and gymnures (Erinaceomorpha)[1,2,3,4,5,6], some of which are relict representatives of highly divergent ancient lineages (e.g. Uropsilus and Anourosorex). The aim of our work was to present new cytogenetic data along with the first description of karyotypes of several insectivores from the eastern edge of the QTP, by focusing on Minshan. Some of these species are narrow-range local endemics (Sorex cansulus), while others belong to species complexes occurring throughout Hengduan and adjacent territories Some of these species are narrow-range local endemics (Sorex cansulus), while others belong to species complexes occurring throughout Hengduan and adjacent territories (S. bedfordiae, Uropsilus sp. and A. squamipes) or even across Eurasia (Crocidura ex gr. suaveolens)

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