Mitochondrial 12S rDNA Sequence Relationships Suggest That the Enigmatic Bovid “Linh Duong” Pseudonovibos spiralis Is Closely Related to Buffalo

Abstract

The phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of the recently described Southeast Asian endemic bovid Pseudonovibos spiralis were deduced from nearly complete 12S mitochondrial rDNA sequences of this species and Bubalus bubalis alongside 26 sequences of Bovidae from GenBank using Cervus elaphus (Cervidae) as outgroup. Maximum-likelihood analyses performed by PUZZLE and fastDNAml nested P. spiralis at the base of the subtribe buffalo Bovini, suggesting the close relationship of this enigmatic species with buffalo and enabling its distinction into the separate subtribe Pseudonovibovina.