Phylogenetic relationships of the cuscuses (Diprotodontia : Phalangeridae) of island Southeast Asia and Melanesia based on the mitochondrial ND2 gene
Shimona Kealy
A B I , Stephen C. Donnellan C D , Kieren J. Mitchell C E F , Michael Herrera C G , Ken Aplin A D , Sue O'Connor A B and Julien Louys A H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Archaeology and Natural History, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
B ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
D South Australian Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia.
E ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
F Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
G Archaeological Studies Program, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101, Manila, Philippines.
H Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution, Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
I Corresponding author. Email: shimona.kealy@anu.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 42(3) 266-276 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM18050
Submitted: 23 August 2018 Accepted: 1 October 2019 Published: 13 November 2019
Abstract
The species-level systematics of the marsupial family Phalangeridae, particularly Phalanger, are poorly understood, due partly to the family’s wide distribution across Australia, New Guinea, eastern Indonesia, and surrounding islands. In order to refine the species-level systematics of Phalangeridae, and improve our understanding of their evolution, we generated 36 mitochondrial ND2 DNA sequences from multiple species and sample localities. We combined our new data with available sequences and produced the most comprehensive molecular phylogeny for Phalangeridae to date. Our analyses (1) strongly support the monophyly of the three phalangerid subfamilies (Trichosurinae, Ailuropinae, Phalangerinae); (2) reveal the need to re-examine all specimens currently identified as ‘Phalanger orientalis’; and (3) suggest the elevation of the Solomon Island P. orientalis subspecies to species level (P. breviceps Thomas, 1888). In addition, samples of P. orientalis from Timor formed a clade, consistent with an introduction by humans from a single source population. However, further research on east Indonesian P. orientalis populations will be required to test this hypothesis, resolve inconsistencies in divergence time estimates, and locate the source population and taxonomic status of the Timor P. orientalis.
Additional keywords: molecular, New Guinea, Phalanger orientalis, Timor, translocation.
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