Phylogenetic and morphological significance of an overlooked flying squirrel (Pteromyini, Rodentia) from the eastern Himalayas with the description of a new genus
Quan Li, 中国科学院昆明动物研究所遗传资源与进化国家重点实验室，云南 昆明650223，中国, Feng Cheng, Stephen Jackson, Kristofer M. Helgen, Wen‐Yu Song, Shaoying Liu, Daosavanh Sanamxay, Song Li, Fei Li, Yun Xiong, Jun Sun, Hongjiao Wang, Xuelong Jiang, 大理大学病原与媒介生物研究所云南省自然疫源性疾病防控技术重点实验室，云南 大理 671000，中国, 四川省林业科学研究院，四川 成都 610081, 中国, 中国科学院昆明动物研究所昆明动物博物馆，云南 昆明650223，中国, 嘉道理农场暨植物园，香港 大埔 999077, 中国, 高黎贡山国家级自然保护区贡山管护局，云南 贡山 673500, 中国, 中国科学院大学昆明生命科学院，云南 昆明 650223，中国, Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden, Lam Kam Road, Tai Po, Hong Kong, China, Gongshan Management Bureau of Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Gongshan, Yunnan 673500, China
Abstract
The flying squirrels (Pteromyini, Rodentia) are the most diverse and widely distributed group of gliding mammals. Taxonomic boundaries and relationships within flying squirrels remain an area of active research in mammalogy. The discovery of new specimens of <i>Pteromys</i> (<i>Hylopetes</i>) <i>leonardi</i> Thomas, 1921, previously considered a synonym of <i>Hylopetes alboniger</i>, in Yunnan Province, China allowed a morphological and genetic reassessment of the status of this taxon. Phylogenetic reconstruction was implemented using sequences of two mitochondrial (12S ribosomal RNA and 16S ribosomal RNA) and one nuclear (interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein) gene fragments. Morphological assessments involved examinations of features preserved on skins, skulls, and penises of museum specimens, supplemented with principal component analysis of craniometric data. Together these assessments revealed that this taxon should be recognized not only as a distinct species, but should also be placed within a new genus, described here as <i>Priapomys </i> <b>gen. nov.</b>