A group of scientists, including the Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, made discoveries in Southeast Asia. five new mammal species. These are gymnuras, animals related to hedgehogs but without feathers. This is of great importance as it is one of the most studied groups of animals, and the discovery of new mammal species is not very common.
The results of the research published in the journal Zoological Journal of the Linnean Societythey applied New genetic and morphological analyzes in samples kept in scientific collections procedures that allow museums to identify new species.
Gymnuras are small animals belonging to the porcupine family, but instead of quills they have softer fur. They are not rodents like spiny hedgehogs and have a pointed nose.
Lacking the spines of its relatives, this soft-furred hedgehog looks at first glance like a cross between a mouse and a short-tailed shrew.
“Soft-furred hedgehogs, without the spines of their relatives At first glance, they look like a cross between a mouse and a shrew. short-tailed,” explains lead author Arlo Hinckley, who began the study during his thesis developed at Doñana – CSIC Biology Station.
These newly described species belong to the gymnuran group, scientifically known as “gymnuran”. hylomysThose living in Southeast Asia and previously only represented as such Only two known species.
They are omnivorous and active day and night.
According to the researcher, these small mammals are active day and night and are omnivorous. Probably, They eat a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates, as well as some fruits. when the opportunity presents itself.
“Based on the lifestyle of their close relatives and field observations, these species likely nest and shelter in holes while foraging among tree roots, fallen logs, rocks, grassy areas, shrubs, and leaf litter,” explains Hinckley. “But because they are so little studied, we limit ourselves to speculating about the details of their natural history,” he explains.
They nest and take shelter in holes while searching for food among tree roots, fallen logs, rocks, grassy areas, weeds and leaf litter.
The researcher first became interested in this group of mammals in 2016, while developing his doctoral thesis at the Doñana Biological Station, particularly after sampling them in Borneo with study co-author Miguel Camacho Sánchez.
Preliminary genetic data and studies of several known populations hylomys In Southeast Asia they suggested: There may be more species in the group more than those currently recognized. This led Hinckley to examine natural history collections for specimens assigned to the group, most of which consisted only of preserved skins and skulls.
Searching for data in museums
When he began his research at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History last year, Hinckley looked through the museum’s collections to fill in some geographic gaps in the specimens he had previously studied. He did this with Melissa Hakwins, a museum curator who specializes in mammals.
“Thanks to the museum staff, we were able to detect the new species”Hinckley, who has preserved these examples to their original collectors for countless decades,” says Hinckley.
Before samples are defined as new species It had been in the drawers for 84 years. For 62 years in the case of specimens from the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.
“By applying modern genetic techniques, we were able to identify these specimens years after they were collected. “Future generations will be able to identify even more new species.”
Ultimately, Hinckley, Hawkins, and their collaborators collected 232 physical samples and 85 tissue samples for genetic analysis of the entire group. hylomysas well as modern and historical museum specimens from at least 14 natural history collections from Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Spanish participation
They did it later Genetic analysis of tissue samples in the ancient DNA laboratories of the Doñana Biological Station and in the museum’s Analytical Biology Laboratory. They also made meticulous physical observations of the skulls, teeth, and fur of all the specimens.
The results allowed us to identify seven distinct genetic lineages. hylomysThis shows that the number of recognized species in the group is about to increase fivefold. This was finally confirmed by morphological observations of the samples.
“People may be surprised to learn that there are still undiscovered mammals.”says Hawkins. “But there’s a lot we don’t know, especially smaller nocturnal animals that can be difficult to distinguish from each other.”
The study identified two completely new species and three species that were considered subspecies of another previously known species. Two new species identified were named Hylomys vorax And Hylomys macaroniIt is endemic to the Leuser ecosystem, a tropical moist forest area located in Southeast Asia. The first was from southern Vietnam and the second was originally from the north of the island of Sumatra.
A “vampire” Hylomys
HE Hylomys macaroni It has dark brown fur and is about 14 centimeters long. It takes its name from the Vietnamese expression. but still means “vampire” because Males of the species have long incisors that resemble fangs.
Hinckley says more field work is needed to find out what these incisors might be used for, but the larger size in males suggests they may play a role in sexual selection. The males also had rust-colored markings on their chests, which the researcher likely attributed to secretions from the scent glands.
HE Hylomys vorax It also has dark brown fur but is slightly smaller than the others. Hylomys macaroni, approximately 12 centimeters long. It has an all-black tail and a very narrow snout and is found only on the slopes of Leuser in North Sumatra.
Hinckley and Hawkins gave the species its Latin name. Hylomys vorax According to the statement made by mammal expert Frederick Ulmer During an expedition to Sumatra in 1939, he collected the samples that enabled the study. Ulmer described the animals in his field notes as “voracious beasts” and incorrectly identified them with a type of shrew.
The other three new species were previously thought to be subspecies. Hylomys suillusbut all showed enough genetic and physical differences to be considered species in their own right. They were called Hylomys dorsalis, Hylomys maxi And Hymolys peguensis. The first comes from the mountains of northern Borneo and has a striking dark stripe that starts at the top of the head, bisects the back, and disappears around the body.
It is approximately the same size Hylomys macaroni. For your part, Hylomys maxi It is also one of the largest at 14 centimeters. This species is found in the mountainous regions of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. Finally, Hymolys peguensis It is smaller, measuring about 13 centimeters, and is found in many countries on the Southeast Asian continent, especially Thailand, Laos and Burma. According to Hawkins, its fur is slightly more yellow than other species.
Reference work: https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad177/7468198?login=false
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