Open AccessFirst record of the ferret-badger <em>Melogale cucphuongensis </em>Nadler et al., 2011 (Carnivora: Mustelidae), with description of a new subspecies, in southeastern China
Author(s) -
Li Song,
Guohua Yang,
Shuo Liu,
Chang-Shan Jin
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
zoological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 19
ISSN - 2095-8137
DOI - 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2019.067
Subject(s) - mustelidae , subspecies , badger , geography , china , zoology , range (aeronautics) , biology , ecology , archaeology , materials science , composite material
The ferret-badger Melogale cucphuongensis was first described from Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam, with no subsequent reports in later years. During our surveys of the Wuyishan Mountains of Fujian Province in southeastern China during May 2018, a Melogale specimen was identified. Analysis based on pelage and skull characteristics as well as molecular data indicated it to be a new subspecies, which we nominated as Melogale cucphuongensis guadunensis subsp. nov . This is the first record of the species in China. Therefore, this research not only expands the distribution range of the species beyond Vietnam, but also indicates that geographic variation of the species should have been proceeding in southeastern China.