Abstract

Karyotypes of four Chinese species of field mice of the genus Apodemus were examined, including Apodemus chevrieri (diploid chromosome number, 2n=48, fundamental number of autosomal arms, FNa=56), A. draco (2n=48, FNa=48), A. ilex (2n=48, FNa=48), and A. latronum (2n=48, FNa=48). Karyotypes of A. chevrieri, A. draco, and A. ilex are reported here for the first time, providing useful information for their species taxonomy. Determining the karyotypes of all species of Apodemus in Asia, both in this and previous studies, provides a solid overview of the chromosome evolution and species differentiation of the genus in East Asia. In addition to allopatric speciation, chromosome rearrangements likely played an important role in the formation of the four Apodemus species groups as well as speciation within each group in East Asia. For example, increased centromeric heterochromatin in A. latronum may have contributed to the post-mating reproductive isolation from the A. draco-A. ilex-A. semotus clade.

Highlights

  • Field mice of the genus Apodemus are common murid species widely distributed in the Palearctic region through to the northern part of the Oriental region

  • The genus currently includes 20 species (Musser et al, 1996; Musser & Carlenton, 2005), which have been characterized into three species groups based on morphological characters from detailed literature review (Musser et al, 1996): that is, Apodemus Group (A. agrarius, A. chevrieri, A. speciosus, A. peninsulae, A. latronum, A. draco, A. semotus, A. gurkha), Sylvaemus Group (A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A. uralensis, A. mystacinus, A. fulvipectus, A. heremonensis, A. alpicola, A. arianus, A. hyrcanicus, A. ponticus, A. rusiges, A. wardi), and Argenteus Group (A. argenteus)

  • The Apodemus Group and Argenteus Group consist of species distributed in East Asia, whereas species within the Sylvaemus Group are found in western Palearctic region

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Summary

Introduction

Field mice of the genus Apodemus are common murid species widely distributed in the Palearctic region through to the northern part of the Oriental region. The Apodemus Group and Argenteus Group consist of species distributed in East Asia, whereas species within the Sylvaemus Group are found in western Palearctic region. The A. agrarius species from the Apodemus Group is widely distributed in the Palearctic region from East Asia to Europe. There is still considerable taxonomic confusion regarding the species boundaries and identification of East Asian Apodemus species (Musser et al, 1996), especially those distributed in China. Several phylogenetic studies using genetic approaches were conducted to reveal the species relationship and validity of the above-mentioned species groups

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