Abstract
AbstractChromosomal polytypy, morphological conservatism and absence of data have frustrated the taxonomic revision of two species of southern African‐endemic laminate‐toothed rats (Otomys irroratusandOtomys saundersiaes.l.). New cytogenetic (G‐banding and fluorescencein situhybridization), DNA sequence [cytochromeb(cytb) gene] and geometric morphometric data demonstrate the synonymy ofO. saundersiaefrom Grahamstown (Eastern Cape, South Africa) underO. irroratus, and the validity ofOtomys karoensisfrom the Fynbos Biome of the Western Cape. Phenotypic dimorphism in pelage colour and cranial morphology inO. irroratusfrom the climatically unpredictable Albany Thicket (=Savanna) Biome of the Eastern Cape results from the retention of allometric paedomorphic traits in some adults (saundersiaemorph) but not others. The same paedomorphic traits are associated with speciation and karyotypic and genetic differentiation inO. karoensis. WithinO. irroratus, two phenotypically and genotypically (cytbdivergence=6.4%) divergent lineages correspond with the Fynbos/Albany Thicket and Grassland biomes. Incipient speciation inO. irroratusseems to be associated with ecology rather than karyotype.
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