Keywords :
Leopoldamys,
long-tailed giant rats,
Thailand,
Indochina,
Murinae rodents
บทคัดย่อ :
Recently, Balakirev et al. (2013) presented a taxonomic revision of the genus Leopoldamys based on phylogenetic analy-
ses. They identified five main Leopoldamys genetic lineages and suggested to rename several of them. According to these
authors, the genetic lineage previously thought to belong to L. edwardsi (lineage L1) should be assigned to L. revertens
while L. neilli (lineage L2) should be considered as a junior synonym of L. herberti. Using molecular and morphological
data from a large sampling of Leopoldamys specimens, the aim of the present study was to investigate the taxonomic status
of L. herberti and L. neilli. This study reveals that, contrary to Balakirev et al. s statement, both genetic lineages L1 and
L2 occur in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, close to the type locality of L. herberti. We also show that the external mea-
surements and color pattern of L. herberti are highly similar to those of L1 specimens but are not consistent with the mor-
phology of L2 specimens. Therefore these results strongly suggest that L. herberti should be assigned to the genetic
lineage L1. Consequently L. neilli should not be considered as a junior synonym of L. herberti and this study confirms
that the appropriate name of the genetic lineage L2 is L. neilli. Moreover, as our results show that L. herberti should be
assigned to the lineage L1, this name has nomenclatural priority over L. revertens, the species name suggested by Bala-
kirev et al. (2013) for this lineage.
เอกสารอ้างอิง :
Latinne, A., Chaval, Y., Waengsothorn, S., Rojanadilok, P., Eiamampai, K., Sribuarod, K., Herbreteau, V., Morand, S. and Michaux, J.R., 2013. Is Leopoldamys neilli (Rodentia, Muridae) a synonym of Leopoldamys herberti? A reply to Balakirev et al.(2013). Zootaxa, 3731(4), pp.589-598.
