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Genetic similarity between Akodon olivaceus and Akodon xanthorhinus (Rodentia: Muridae) in Argentina
Author(s) -
Pearson Oliver P.,
Smith Margaret F.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00191.x
Subject(s) - biology , muridae , zoology , population , genetic distance , mitochondrial dna , ecology , transect , genetic variation , demography , genetics , gene , sociology
On an East–West transect in northern Patagonia, the steppe‐inhabiting mouse Akodon (or Abrothrix ) xanthorhinus meets the forest‐inhabiting Akodon ( Abrothrix ) olivaceus on the eastern side of the Andes where steppe meets forest. In a contact zone of about 30 km, the mice are morphologically intermediate. Nuclear (allozyme) and mitochondrial DNA analyses confirm that the genetic difference between eastern, western, and intermediate populations is not much greater than would be expected within individuals from a single population. We conclude that xanthorhinus and olivaceus should be united under the species name olivaceus .