Genetic characterization of Okinawan black rats showing coat color polymorphisms of white spotting and melanism.

摘要: We examined pelage color variation in wild populations of black rats (the Rattus rattus species complex) the Yambaru forest area, northern Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. Our field study revealed that 8.7% (38/438) and 0.2% (4/2500) exhibited two types coat color: white spotting melanism, respectively. Using 34 representative animals, phylogeography population was inferred using a nuclear gene marker, i.e., sequences (954 bp) melanocortin-1 receptor (Mc1r) responsible for melanistic form rats. Four from were characterized as R. tanezumi, Asian strain rat. Notably, neither phenotypic characters or melanism associated with Mc1r haplotypes. Analysis mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) (1140 four haplotypes recovered clustered clade tanezumi differed by one more bases at other localities Japan countries. Thus, both variants may have arisen native rat without interaction lineage rattus, which exhibits worldwide distribution displays such variants. The has thus experienced its own evolutionary history allopatry substantial period time (e.g., 10,000 years), preserved valuable genetic polymorphisms will be useful assessing ecological consequences natural populations.