Molecular phylogenetics of slit-faced bats (Chiroptera: Nycteridae) reveal deeply divergent African lineages.

摘要: The bat family Nycteridae contains only the genus Nycteris, which comprises 13 currently recognized species from Africa and Arabian Peninsula, one Madagascar, two restricted to Malaysia Indonesia in South-East Asia. We investigated genetic variation, clade membership, phylogenetic relationships with broad sampling across for most clades. sequenced mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) four independent nuclear introns (2,166 bp) 253 individuals. Although our samples did not include all species, we recovered at least 16 deeply divergent monophyletic lineages using multilocus datasets both gene tree analyses. Mean pairwise uncorrected distances among species-ranked Nycteris clades (17% cytb 4% concatenated introns) suggest high levels of diversity Nycteridae. found a large number designated whose members are distributed wholly or partly East (10 clades), indicating that has been historically underestimated raising possibility additional unsampled and/or undescribed occur more poorly sampled Central West Africa. Well-resolved mitochondrial, nuclear, trees strongly supported African ancestry SE Asian species. Species analyses support diverged subclades have previously recognized, these may warrant recognition as subgenera. Our also traditionally groups Nycteris. Mitonuclear discordance regarding geographic population structure thebaica appears result male-biased dispersal this analyses, almost based on museum voucher specimens, serve identify species-rank can be tested datasets, such morphology, vocalizations, distributions, ectoparasites. highlight need comprehensive revision