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Genetic tests of the taxonomic status of the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta) from the high mountain zone of the Andringitra Massif, Madagascar

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2000

Anne D. Yoder ,
Jodi A. Irwin ,
Steven M. Goodman  and
Soava V. Rakotoarisoa
Anne D. Yoder
Affiliation:
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611 Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Jodi A. Irwin
Affiliation:
Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60611
Steven M. Goodman
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 World Wide Fund for Nature, BP 738, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
Soava V. Rakotoarisoa
Affiliation:
Département de Paléontologie et d'Anthropologie Biologique, Université d'Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar
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Abstract

A recent survey of the high-mountain zone of the Madagascar Parc National (PN) d'Andringitra revealed the presence of an apparently isolated troop of the ring-tailed lemur Lemur catta. These animals display phenotypic and ecological characteristics that are unusual for the monotypic genus Lemur, thus raising the possibility that they are members of a different undescribed species. We present analyses of two mitochondrial genes to test the hypothesis that L. catta from Andringitra should be considered a distinct species. The results indicate that taxonomic revision is not warranted under the expectations of the phylogenetic, coalescent, or biological species concepts. Rather, the genetic patterns observed among the Andringitra and lowland mitochondrial haplotypes are consistent with those expected for a single species.

Keywords

species identificationmtDNAMadagascarprimatesStrepsirrhiniLemur catta
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 252 , Issue 1 , September 2000 , pp. 1 - 9
Copyright
© 2000 The Zoological Society of London

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