On the nomenclature of the American clade of weasels (Carnivora: Mustelidae)
Bruce D. Patterson, Héctor E. Ramírez-Cháves, Júlio Fernando Vilela, André E. R. Soares, Felix Grewe
Abstract
A brief review of the phylogeny and nomenclature of the weasels, genus Mustela Linnaeus, 1758 in the broad sense, indicates continuing confusion over the appropriate name for the well-supported American clade included within it. A case is made that the American mink (Neovison vison) and three allied species (Mustela frenata, M. felipei, and M. africana) should now be recognized in the genus Neogale Gray, 1865. The ages and morphological disparities of both Neogale and Mustela sensu stricto indicate that both are in need of comprehensive revisions.
Topics & Concepts
MustelidaeNomenclatureCladeCarnivoraZoologyBiologyTaxonomy (biology)Phylogenetic treeEndocrinologyBiochemistryGeneEcology and biodiversity studiesAnimal Ecology and Behavior StudiesEvolution and Paleontology Studies