Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).

Shrews in the genus Episoriculus are among the least-known mammals in China, where representatives occur mainly in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountains. We sequence one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes from 77 individuals referable to this genus, collect morphometric data for five shape and 11...

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Main Authors: Yingxun Liu, Xuming Wang, Tao Wan, Rui Liao, Shunde Chen, Shaoying Liu, Bisong Yue
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299624
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author Yingxun Liu
Xuming Wang
Tao Wan
Rui Liao
Shunde Chen
Shaoying Liu
Bisong Yue
author_facet Yingxun Liu
Xuming Wang
Tao Wan
Rui Liao
Shunde Chen
Shaoying Liu
Bisong Yue
author_sort Yingxun Liu
collection DOAJ
description Shrews in the genus Episoriculus are among the least-known mammals in China, where representatives occur mainly in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountains. We sequence one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes from 77 individuals referable to this genus, collect morphometric data for five shape and 11 skull measurements from 56 specimens, and use museum collections and GenBank sequences to analyze phylogenetic relationships between this and related genera in an integrated molecular and morphometric approach. Whereas historically anywhere from two to eight species have been recognized in this genus, we conclude that six (Episoriculus baileyi, E. caudatus, E. leucops, E. macrurus, E. sacratus, E. soluensis) are valid. We dissent from recent systematic reviews of this genus and regard E. sacratus to be a valid taxon, E. umbrinus to be a subspecies of E. caudatus, and transfer E. fumidus to Pseudosoriculus. Our record of E. soluensis is the first for China, and expands the previously recognized distribution of this taxon from Nepal and NE India into the adjacent Yadong and Nyalam counties. One further undescribed Episoriculus taxon may exist in Xizang.
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spelling doaj-art-2c503a5e4a0a44aa9718b2c434af635c2025-08-20T02:55:20ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e029962410.1371/journal.pone.0299624Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).Yingxun LiuXuming WangTao WanRui LiaoShunde ChenShaoying LiuBisong YueShrews in the genus Episoriculus are among the least-known mammals in China, where representatives occur mainly in the Himalayan and Hengduan mountains. We sequence one mitochondrial and three nuclear genes from 77 individuals referable to this genus, collect morphometric data for five shape and 11 skull measurements from 56 specimens, and use museum collections and GenBank sequences to analyze phylogenetic relationships between this and related genera in an integrated molecular and morphometric approach. Whereas historically anywhere from two to eight species have been recognized in this genus, we conclude that six (Episoriculus baileyi, E. caudatus, E. leucops, E. macrurus, E. sacratus, E. soluensis) are valid. We dissent from recent systematic reviews of this genus and regard E. sacratus to be a valid taxon, E. umbrinus to be a subspecies of E. caudatus, and transfer E. fumidus to Pseudosoriculus. Our record of E. soluensis is the first for China, and expands the previously recognized distribution of this taxon from Nepal and NE India into the adjacent Yadong and Nyalam counties. One further undescribed Episoriculus taxon may exist in Xizang.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299624
spellingShingle Yingxun Liu
Xuming Wang
Tao Wan
Rui Liao
Shunde Chen
Shaoying Liu
Bisong Yue
Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).
PLoS ONE
title Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).
title_full Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).
title_fullStr Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).
title_full_unstemmed Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).
title_short Integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus Episoriculus (Mammalia: Eulipotyphla: Soricidae).
title_sort integrative phylogenetic analysis of the genus episoriculus mammalia eulipotyphla soricidae
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0299624
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AT ruiliao integrativephylogeneticanalysisofthegenusepisoriculusmammaliaeulipotyphlasoricidae
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