Mitochondrial CR-1 variation in Sardinian hares and its relationships with other Old World hares (Genus Lepus).

摘要: Among the European fauna, Sardinian hare (Lepus sp.) is peculiar in that it differs from all other hares inhabiting continent. Here, we report on variation of a 461 bp sequence hypervariable domain 1 mitochondrial control region, examined 42 collected throughout Sardinia and compared to corresponding sequences different Lepus taxa. Seventeen novel haplotypes were found population, resulting haplotype diversity 0.840 nucleotide 0.012. As result Bayesian principal coordinates analyses, grouped with North African hares, constituting monophyletic clade diverges Old World including Cape South Africa East Asia. Hence, our data agree populations form distinct taxon, which could possibly be included L. capensis superspecies. Moreover, two lineages can Tunisia, providing evidence common origin thus supporting hypothesis introduced into island historical times. Our show differ their geographic distribution wild population also shows signature postintroduction demographic expansion.