Abstract
In this report, the second of a revisionary series on mouse opossums (Marmosa), we analyze cytochrome b sequence data from 166 specimens of the subgenus Micoureus and delimit putative species using the multirate Poisson Tree Processes (mPTP) method. That analysis identifies 21 putative species, many of which can be matched with available names, including alstoni, constantiae, demerarae, limae, germana, meridae, paraguayana, parda, perplexa, phaea, rapposa, and rutteri. However, some of these nominal taxa are not morphologically diagnosable, and in the absence of other corroborating evidence, we do not recommend that they all be recognized as valid. Phylogenetic analyses of a multigene dataset suggest that putative species of Micoureus belong to several well-supported clades, one of which (the "Rapposa Group") is revised in this report. As defined herein, the Rapposa Group includes at least three valid species: M. rapposa Thomas, 1899 (including budini Thomas, 1920); M. pardaTate, 1931; and M. rutteriThomas, 1924. Herein we document their ecogeographic distributions and diagnostic traits, comment on their taxonomic histories, and list the specimens we examined (including all relevant type material).
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3-60 |
| Number of pages | 58 |
| Journal | Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |
| Volume | 439 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Our work was funded in part by National Science Foundation grants to R.S.V. (DEB-0743039) and S.A.J. (DEB-0743062). Research at the AMNH was made possible by the combined efforts of Eleanor Hoeger, Sara Ketelsen, and Marisa Surovy, who processed numerous specimen loans for this project. Patricia Wynne drew figures 4, 9, 10, and 11 with her customary skill and professionalism. Craig Chesek produced the skin photos (figs. 7 and 8), and Nicole Wong photographed the skulls (fig. 13). Morgan Hill took the SEM images from which Patricia Wynne subsequently drew figures 10 and 11. We thank Lorissa Fujishin for her careful lab work and expert databasing skills at the University of Minnesota.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 American Museum of Natural History.