Allozyme variation and taxonomic status of Calomys hummelincki (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae)

GARCÍA, B.A.; MARTINO, A.; CHIAPPERO, M.B.; GARDENAL, C.N.

ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SAUGETIERKUNDE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY

Elsevier

Año: 1999 vol. 64 p. 30 - 35

0044-3468

The level of genetic polymorphism was analyzed in a population sample of Calomys hummelincki from Venezuela. Enzymes and proteins studied by means of gel electrophoresis give information on 30 loci. The proportion of polymorphic loci was 40%, and mean expected heterozygosity (He) was 12.7%. These values are higher than those reported for most species of rodents in the northern hemisphere, but are comparable to those observed in other Sigmodontinae species from Argentina. Nei´s genetic distance (DN) with the species C. laucha, C.venustus and C. musculinus ranged from 0.289 to 0.494. DN values between populations of different Sigmodontinae species are below 0.09. A distance Wagner tree based on modified Rogers´ distances shows that C. hummelincki is more closely related to C. venustus than to C. laucha. Our data support the proposal that C. hummelincki and C. laucha are fully distinct species.