A preliminary study on origin of Callosciurus squirrels introduced into Japan

摘要: ABSTRACT To examine the origin of Callosciurus erythraeus introduced to Japan, we compared mitochondrial DNA control region sequences eight haplotypes from Japan with those 42 Taiwan. There were two distinct phylogroups in Japan. Six included Taiwan population, suggesting that they could have been Two haplotypes, however, distantly related cluster consisting all Taiwanese and six Japanese haplotypes. The uncorrected genetic distances (5.2–5.7%) between these out-group (Callosciurus finlaysonii Laos) less than (8.3–9.8%) other Both C. variable external characteristics, such as pelage color, include many subspecific forms, so it is difficult evidently identify both species on basis their ...