Taxonomic Status of Hylomys parvus and Hylomys suillus (Insectivora: Erinaceidae): Biochemical and Morphological Analyses

Abstract

The genus Hylomys was thought to be represented by a single widespread species. Biochemical and morphometric analyses of several Southeast Asian populations reveal that Sumatra is inhabited by two distinct species, the dwarf gymnure ( H. parvus ) and the lesser gymnure ( H. suillus ). The absence of interbreeding between these two groups along with their relatively ancient common origins are documented by several diagnostic loci and a large Nei's genetic distance (D = 0.353 ± 0.035). The dwarf gymnure has been reported only from the slopes of the Mt. Kerinci volcano in Sumatra, where the species lives at higher elevations than its potential competitor, the lesser gymnure. Other populations of Hylomys from Java, Borneo, and Malaysia are more closely related to the Sumatran sample of H. suillus , but they exhibit strong interpopulational genetic differentiation (D = 0.165 ± 0.040) that may be accounted for by their isolated montane habitat. In addition, a principal-components analysis based on 16 measurements of the skull clearly separates adult specimens of both species. There is little overlap in the measurements between H. suillus (which is larger) and H. parvus . On Sumatra where both species may be sympatric, the notched space between premaxillary tips, soft texture of the fur, and more delicate skull and dentition are diagnostic of H. parvus .