TY - JOUR

T1 - Rapid chromosomal evolution in enigmatic mammal with XX in both sexes, the Alay mole vole Ellobius alaicus Vorontsov et al., 1969 (Mammalia, Rodentia)

AU - Bakloushinskaya, Irina

AU - Lyapunova, Elena A.

AU - Saidov, Abdusattor S.

AU - Romanenko, Svetlana A.

AU - O'Brien, Patricia C.M.

AU - Serdyukova, Natalia A.

AU - Ferguson-Smith, Malcolm A.

AU - Matveevsky, Sergey

AU - Bogdanov, Alexey S.

PY - 2019/6/20

Y1 - 2019/6/20

N2 - Evolutionary history and taxonomic position for cryptic species may be clarified by using molecular and cytogenetic methods. The subterranean rodent, the Alay mole vole Ellobius alaicus Vorontsov et al., 1969 is one of three sibling species constituting the subgenus Ellobius Fischer, 1814, all of which lost the Y chromosome and obtained isomorphic XX sex chromosomes in both males and females. E. alaicus is evaluated by IUCN as a data deficient species because their distribution, biology, and genetics are almost unknown. We revealed specific karyotypic variability (2n = 52-48) in E. alaicus due to different Robertsonian translocations (Rbs). Two variants of hybrids (2n = 53, different Rbs) with E. tancrei Blasius, 1884 were found at the Northern slopes of the Alay Ridge and in the Naryn district, Kyrgyzstan. We described the sudden change in chromosome numbers from 2n = 50 to 48 and specific karyotype structure for mole voles, which inhabit the entrance to the Alay Valley (Tajikistan), and revealed their affiliation as E. alaicus by cytochrome b and fragments of nuclear XIST and Rspo1 genes sequencing. To date, it is possible to expand the range of E. alaicus from the Alay Valley (South Kyrgyzstan) up to the Ferghana Ridge and the Naryn Basin, Tien Shan at the north-east and to the Pamir-Alay Mountains (Tajikistan) at the west. The closeness of E. tancrei and E. alaicus is supported, whereas specific chromosome and molecular changes, as well as geographic distribution, verified the species status for E. alaicus. The case of Ellobius species accented an unevenness in rates of chromosome and nucleotide changes along with morphological similarity, which is emblematic for cryptic species.

AB - Evolutionary history and taxonomic position for cryptic species may be clarified by using molecular and cytogenetic methods. The subterranean rodent, the Alay mole vole Ellobius alaicus Vorontsov et al., 1969 is one of three sibling species constituting the subgenus Ellobius Fischer, 1814, all of which lost the Y chromosome and obtained isomorphic XX sex chromosomes in both males and females. E. alaicus is evaluated by IUCN as a data deficient species because their distribution, biology, and genetics are almost unknown. We revealed specific karyotypic variability (2n = 52-48) in E. alaicus due to different Robertsonian translocations (Rbs). Two variants of hybrids (2n = 53, different Rbs) with E. tancrei Blasius, 1884 were found at the Northern slopes of the Alay Ridge and in the Naryn district, Kyrgyzstan. We described the sudden change in chromosome numbers from 2n = 50 to 48 and specific karyotype structure for mole voles, which inhabit the entrance to the Alay Valley (Tajikistan), and revealed their affiliation as E. alaicus by cytochrome b and fragments of nuclear XIST and Rspo1 genes sequencing. To date, it is possible to expand the range of E. alaicus from the Alay Valley (South Kyrgyzstan) up to the Ferghana Ridge and the Naryn Basin, Tien Shan at the north-east and to the Pamir-Alay Mountains (Tajikistan) at the west. The closeness of E. tancrei and E. alaicus is supported, whereas specific chromosome and molecular changes, as well as geographic distribution, verified the species status for E. alaicus. The case of Ellobius species accented an unevenness in rates of chromosome and nucleotide changes along with morphological similarity, which is emblematic for cryptic species.

KW - Chromosome painting

KW - Cytochrome b gene

KW - Ellobius

KW - Hybridization

KW - Nuclear XIST and Rspo1 genes

KW - Robertsonian translocations

KW - Speciation

KW - Synaptonemal complex

KW - FIELD VOLE

KW - GENOME HOMOLOGY

KW - PAMIR

KW - cytochrome b gene

KW - RATS

KW - RED FOX

KW - hybridization

KW - REARRANGEMENTS

KW - synaptonemal complex

KW - speciation

KW - chromosome painting

KW - nuclear XIST and Rspo1 genes

KW - GENUS ELLOBIUS

KW - SEQUENCE

KW - DYNAMICS

KW - ARVICOLINAE CRICETIDAE

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85070113626&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3897/COMPCYTOGEN.V13I2.34224

DO - 10.3897/COMPCYTOGEN.V13I2.34224

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85070113626

VL - 13

SP - 147

EP - 177

JO - Comparative Cytogenetics

JF - Comparative Cytogenetics

SN - 1993-0771

IS - 2

ER -