Taxonomy of the southernmost populations of Philander (Didelphimorphia, Didelphidae), with implications for the systematics of the genus

CHEMISQUY, AMELIA; FLORES, DAVID

ZOOTAXA

MAGNOLIA PRESS

Lugar: Auckland; Año: 2012 vol. 3481 p. 60 - 72

1175-5326

The taxonomic identities of populations of Philander Brisson of Argentina are still unclear. Philander frenatus (Olfers) is the only species assigned to the country, a conclusion based on incomplete analysis of available material and without a clear taxonomic criterion. The aim of this study was to determine the taxonomic identity of the populations of Philander of Argentina. To accomplish this, DNA from eight specimens from Argentina and one specimen from Paraguay was sequencedand compared with sequences published by other authors, using a phylogenetic approach. To complement the molecular information, seven skull measurements were taken from specimens of P. frenatus and P. opossum canus (Osgood) from Bolivia and Brazil, and compared with the specimens from Argentina and Paraguay using bi- and multivariate analyses. Molecular and morphological results showed that there are two species of Philander in Argentina, P. frenatus inMisiones province and P. opossum canus in Chaco and Formosa provinces. Both species can be morphologically distinguished only by the width of the postorbital constriction. Finally, the phylogenetic analyses and the pairwise genetic distances between the included sequences showed that the taxonomic status of Philander mcilhennyi, P. opossum and its subspecies should be revisited.