Open AccessAre cryptic species of the L esser E gyptian Jerboa , J aculus jaculus (Rodentia, Dipodidae), really cryptic? Re‐evaluation of their taxonomic status with new data from I srael and S inai
Author(s) -
Shenbrot Georgy,
Feldstein Tamar,
Meiri Shai
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.769
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1439-0469
pISSN - 0947-5745
DOI - 10.1111/jzs.12121
Subject(s) - parapatric speciation , biology , sympatric speciation , clade , sensu , zoology , species complex , niche , ecology , phylogenetics , phylogenetic tree , genetic variation , genus , gene flow , gene , biochemistry
Abstract Two clades of the lesser Egyptian jerboa Jaculus jaculus sensu lato were recently described in North Africa and considered as cryptic species. Members of both clades are also found in Israel, where they can be easily identified according to fur and tail colouration and morphology of the male external genitalia, but cannot be separated confidently using skull characters. Examination of type specimens demonstrated that the correct names for the two species are Jaculus jaculus (Linnaeus 1758) and Jaculus hirtipes (Lichtenstein, 1823). Comparisons of geographic and habitat differences of the two species revealed a high niche divergence between them, slightly higher in the sympatric North African populations than in the parapatric populations of Israel and Sinai. A low niche divergence was detected between North African and Middle Eastern populations of J. jaculus , and a low niche convergence between North African and Middle Eastern populations of J. hirtipes . The levels of niche differentiation coincide with those of genetic differences.