On the composition of Antechinomys (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): how many species?
Michael Westerman
A * , Linette Umbrello B and Patricia A. Woolley A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Environment and Genetics, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
B Collections and Research, Western Australian Museum, 49 Kew Street, Welshpool, WA 6106, Australia.
Australian Journal of Zoology 70(3) 95-103 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22041
Submitted: 2 November 2022 Accepted: 6 December 2022 Published: 18 January 2023
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)
Abstract
Morphological and molecular studies have consistently suggested that Sminthopsis, as currently defined, is rendered paraphyletic by the kultarr (Antechinomys laniger). They have also suggested a sister relationship between the kultarr and the long-tailed dunnart. Based on DNA sequence data from multiple mitochondrial and nuclear gene loci we reassign the long-tailed dunnart (formerly Sminthopsis longicaudata) to Antechinomys. Although there is good evidence of genetic structure within the kultarr (A. laniger), it does not correspond to the two currently recognised subspecies, viz A. laniger laniger and A. l. spenceri. We conclude that Antechinomys consists of two species, A. laniger and A. longicaudatus, consistent with morphology. We suggest that the observed genetic and morphological variation within A. laniger merits a more thorough investigation of more samples from across its range to resolve the taxonomy.
Keywords: Antechinomys, Australia, biogeography, Dasyuridae, kultarr, Ningaui, phylogeography, Sminthopsinae, Sminthopsini, Sminthopsis.
References
AMTC (2021) The AMTC Australian mammal species list. Version 1.0. https://australianmammals.org.au/publications/amtc-species-list [Downloaded 12 September 2022]Archer, M (1977). Revision of the dasyurid marsupial genus Antechinomys Krefft. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 18, 17–29.
Archer, M (1981). Results of the Archbold Expeditions. No. 104. Systematic revision of the marsupial dasyurid genus Sminthopsis Thomas. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 168, 61–224.
Atlas of Living Australia (2020) Atlas of Living Australia. Available at http://www.ala.org.au/ [Accessed September 2021]
Baverstock PR, Archer M, Adams M, Richardson BJ (1982) Genetic relationships among 32 species of Australian dasyurid marsupials. In ‘Carnivorous Marsupials’. (Ed. M Archer) pp. 641–650. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney, NSW, Australia)
Baverstock, PR, Krieg, M, and Birrell, J (1989). Evolutionary relationships of Australian marsupials as assessed by albumin immunology. Australian Journal of Zoology 37, 273–287.
| Evolutionary relationships of Australian marsupials as assessed by albumin immunology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beck, RMD, Voss, RS, and Jansa, SA (2022). Craniodental morphology and phylogeny of marsupials. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 457, 1–352.
| Craniodental morphology and phylogeny of marsupials.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beckman, J, and Lill, A (2007). Is morphometric variation associated with teat-number differences in Antechinus agilis and A. swainsonii? Observations from the Otway Ranges, Victoria. Australian Mammalogy 29, 177–190.
| Is morphometric variation associated with teat-number differences in Antechinus agilis and A. swainsonii? Observations from the Otway Ranges, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beckman, J, Banks, SC, Sunnucks, P, Lill, A, and Taylor, AC (2007). Phylogeography and environmental correlates of a cap on reproduction: teat number in a small marsupial, Antechinus agilis. Molecular Ecology 16, 1069–1083.
| Phylogeography and environmental correlates of a cap on reproduction: teat number in a small marsupial, Antechinus agilis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blacket, MJ, Krajewski, C, Labrinidis, A, Cambron, B, Cooper, S, and Westerman, M (1999). Systematic relationships within the dasyurid marsupial tribe Sminthopsini – a multigene approach. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 12, 140–155.
| Systematic relationships within the dasyurid marsupial tribe Sminthopsini – a multigene approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blacket, MJ, Adams, M, Cooper, SJB, Krajewski, C, and Westerman, M (2001). Systematics and evolution of the dasyurid marsupial genus Sminthopsis: I. The Macroura species group. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 8, 149–170.
| Systematics and evolution of the dasyurid marsupial genus Sminthopsis: I. The Macroura species group.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burk, A, Douzery, EJP, and Springer, MS (2002). The secondary structure of mammalian mitochondrial 16S rRNA molecules: refinements based on a comparative phylogenetic approach. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 9, 225–252.
| The secondary structure of mammalian mitochondrial 16S rRNA molecules: refinements based on a comparative phylogenetic approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Byrne, M, Yeates, DK, Joseph, L, Kearney, M, Bowler, J, Williams, MAJ, Cooper, S, Donnellan, SC, Keogh, JS, Leys, R, Melville, J, Murphy, DJ, Porch, N, and Wyrwoll, K-H (2008). Birth of a biome: insights into the assembly and maintenance of the Australian arid zone biota. Molecular Ecology 17, 4398–4417.
| Birth of a biome: insights into the assembly and maintenance of the Australian arid zone biota.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Celik, M, Cascini, M, Haouchar, D, Van Der Burg, C, Dodt, W, Evans, AR, Prentis, P, Bunce, M, Fruciano, C, and Phillips, MJ (2019). A molecular and morphometric assessment of the systematics of the Macropus complex clarifies the tempo and mode of kangaroo evolution. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 186, 793–812.
| A molecular and morphometric assessment of the systematics of the Macropus complex clarifies the tempo and mode of kangaroo evolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clement M, Snell Q, Walker P, Posada D, Crandall K (2002) TCS: estimating gene genealogies. In ‘Proceedings 16th International Parallel Distributed Processing Symposium, 15–19 April 2002, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA’. p. 184. (IEEE Computer Society: Piscataway, NJ, USA) https://doi.org/10.1109/IPDPS.2002.1016585
Cockburn, A, Lee, AK, and Martin, RW (1983). Macrogeographic variation in litter size in Antechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Evolution 37, 86–95.
| Macrogeographic variation in litter size in Antechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Draper TL (2017) Evidence for incipient speciation in the agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis). PhD thesis, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. Available at https://doi.org/10.4225/03/58a270845465b
Eldridge, MDB, Beck, RMD, Croft, DA, Travouillon, KJ, and Fox, BJ (2019). An emerging consensus in the evolution, phylogeny, and systematics of marsupials and their fossil relatives (Metatheria). Journal of Mammalogy 100, 802–837.
| An emerging consensus in the evolution, phylogeny, and systematics of marsupials and their fossil relatives (Metatheria).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
García-Navas, V, Kear, BP, and Westerman, M (2020). The geography of speciation in dasyurid marsupials. Journal of Biogeography 47, 2042–2053.
| The geography of speciation in dasyurid marsupials.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gould J (1856) ‘The Mammals of Australia. Vol. 1.’ (Taylor and Francis: London, UK)
Hennig W (1966) ‘Phylogenetic Systematics.’ (University of Illinois Press: Urbana, IL, USA)
How, RA, Cooper, NK, Girard, L, and Bow, BG (2002). The Mardo: an examination of geographic variation in morphology and reproductive potential in Antechinus flavipes in southwestern Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum 20, 441–447.
Jackson S, Groves C (2015) ‘Taxonomy of Australian mammals.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic., Australia)
Kealy, S, and Beck, R (2017). Total evidence phylogeny and evolutionary timescale for Australian faunivorous marsupials (Dasyuromorphia). BMC Evolutionary Biology 17, 240.
| Total evidence phylogeny and evolutionary timescale for Australian faunivorous marsupials (Dasyuromorphia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kimura, M (1980). A simple method for estimating evolutionary rates of base substitutions through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences. Journal of Molecular Evolution 16, 111–120.
| A simple method for estimating evolutionary rates of base substitutions through comparative studies of nucleotide sequences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krajewski, C, Blacket, M, Buckley, L, and Westerman, M (1997). A multigene assessment of phylogenetic relationships within the dasyurid marsupial subfamily Sminthopsinae. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 8, 236–248.
| A multigene assessment of phylogenetic relationships within the dasyurid marsupial subfamily Sminthopsinae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krajewski, C, Anderson, FE, Woolley, PA, and Westerman, M (2012). Molecular evidence for a deep clade of dunnarts (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae: Sminthopsis). Journal of Mammalian Evolution 19, 265–276.
| Molecular evidence for a deep clade of dunnarts (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae: Sminthopsis).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krefft, G (1866). On the vertebrated animals of the Lower Murray and Darling, their habits, economy, and geographical distribution. Transactions of the Philosophical Society of NSW 1862–1865, 1–33.
Krefft, G (1867). On the classification of the small Dasyuridae of Australia, with descriptions of two new genera and one new species. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1866, 431–435.
Lada, H, Mac Nally, R, and Taylor, AC (2008). Phenotype and gene flow in a marsupial (Antechinus flavipes) in contrasting habitats. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 94, 303–314.
| Phenotype and gene flow in a marsupial (Antechinus flavipes) in contrasting habitats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lidicker, WZ, and Marlow, BJ (1970). A review of the dasyurid marsupial genus Antechinomys Krefft. Mammalia 34, 212–227.
| A review of the dasyurid marsupial genus Antechinomys Krefft.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Posada, D (2008). jModelTest: phylogenetic model averaging. Molecular Biology and Evolution 25, 1253–1256.
| jModelTest: phylogenetic model averaging.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rhind, SG, Bradley, JS, and Cooper, NK (2001). Morphometric variation and taxonomic status of brush-tailed phascogales, Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Australian Journal of Zoology 49, 345–368.
| Morphometric variation and taxonomic status of brush-tailed phascogales, Phascogale tapoatafa (Meyer, 1793) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rix, MG, Edwards, DL, Byrne, M, Harvey, MS, Joseph, L, and Roberts, JD (2015). Biogeography and speciation of terrestrial fauna in the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot. Biological Reviews 90, 762–793.
| Biogeography and speciation of terrestrial fauna in the south-western Australian biodiversity hotspot.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rondquist, F, Teslenko, M, van der Mark, P, Ayres, DL, Darling, A, Höhna, S, Larget, B, Suchard, MA, and Huelsenbeck, JP (2012). MrBayes 3.2: efficient Bayesian phylogenetic inference and model choice across a large model space. Systematic Biology 61, 539–542.
| MrBayes 3.2: efficient Bayesian phylogenetic inference and model choice across a large model space.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spencer, WB (1909). Description of a new species of Sminthopsis. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 21, 449–451.
Stamatakis, A (2006). RAxML-VI-HPC: maximum likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses with thousands of taxa and mixed models. Bioinformatics 22, 2688–2690.
| RAxML-VI-HPC: maximum likelihood-based phylogenetic analyses with thousands of taxa and mixed models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas, O (1906). XLII. – new mammals from the Australian region. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 17, 324–332.
| XLII. – new mammals from the Australian region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Troughton, E (1964). A review of the marsupial genus Sminthopsis (Phascogalinae) and diagnosis of new forms. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89, 307–321.
Umbrello, LS, Woolley, PA, and Westerman, M (2017). Species relationships in the dasyurid marsupial genus Pseudantechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): a re-examination of the taxonomic status of Pseudantechinus roryi. Australian Journal of Zoology 65, 240–247.
| Species relationships in the dasyurid marsupial genus Pseudantechinus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): a re-examination of the taxonomic status of Pseudantechinus roryi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Umbrello, LS, Didham, RK, How, RA, and Huey, JA (2020). Multi-species phylogeography of arid-zone Sminthopsinae (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) reveals evidence of refugia and population expansion in response to Quaternary change. Genes 11, 963–982.
| Multi-species phylogeography of arid-zone Sminthopsinae (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) reveals evidence of refugia and population expansion in response to Quaternary change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Van Dyck, S, Woinarski, JCZ, and Press, AJ (1994). The Kakadu dunnart, Sminthopsis bindi (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): a new species from the stony woodlands of the Northern territory. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 37, 311–323.
Westerman, M, Krajewski, C, Kear, BP, Meehan, L, Meredith, RW, Emerling, CA, and Springer, MS (2016). Phylogenetic relationships of dasyuromorphian marsupials revisited. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 176, 686–701.
| Phylogenetic relationships of dasyuromorphian marsupials revisited.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woolley, PA (1984). Reproduction in Antechinomys laniger (‘spenceri’ form) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): field and laboratory. Australian Wildlife Research 11, 481–489.
| Reproduction in Antechinomys laniger (‘spenceri’ form) (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae): field and laboratory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woolley, PA, Westerman, M, and Krajewski, C (2007). Interspecific affinities within the genus Sminthopsis (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) based on morphology of the penis: congruence with other anatomical and molecular data. Journal of Mammalogy 88, 1381–1392.
| Interspecific affinities within the genus Sminthopsis (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae) based on morphology of the penis: congruence with other anatomical and molecular data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
