Taxonomic revision of the genus Mesechinus (Mammalia Erinaceidae) with description of a new species  

作　　者：Huai-Sen Ai Kai He Zhong-Zheng Chen Jia-Qi Li Tao Wan Quan Li Wen-Hui Nie Jin-Huan Wang Wei-Ting Su Xue-Long Jiang 

机构地区：[1]Gaoligongshan National Nature Reserve, Baoshan Yunnan 678000, China [2]Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China [3]The Kyoto University Museum, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan [4]College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu Anhui 241000, China [5]Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing Jiangsu 210042, China

出　　处：《Zoological Research》2018年第5期335-347,共13页动物学研究（英文）

基　　金：supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFC0505200);Fundamental Research Funds for NIES in 2017(GYZX170308);Biodiversity Conservation Program by MEP of China;K.H. was supported by a JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship for Overseas Researchers(P16092)

摘　　要：Hedgehogs in the genus Mesechinus （Family Erinaceidae）, which include two currently recognized species （ M. dauuricus and M. hughi）, are distributed from northeast Mongolia to the upper Amur Basin in Russia and adjacent areas in northeast and northern China. In recent years, a population of Mesechinus hedgehogs was discovered from Mt. Gaoligong, southwestern Yunnan, China, far from the known distribution range of the genus. Furthermore, these hedgehogs are the only known population to be distributed at elevations higher than 2 100 m and in sympatry with gymnures. To evaluate the taxonomic status of these hedgehogs, we examined specimens representing Mesechinus taxa in China and further conducted morphometric and karyotypic analyses. Our results supported the existence of four species in China. Specifically, we identified the hedgehogs from Mt. Gaoligong as a new species, Mesechinus wangi sp. nov., and recognized M. miodon, previously considered as a synonym of either M. dauuricus or M. hughi as a distinct species. Interestingly, we observed a supernumerary M4 on all specimens of Mesechinus wangi sp. nov., which is an extremely rare event in the evolution of mammalian dentition.Hedgehogs in the genus Mesechinus （Family Erinaceidae）, which include two currently recognized species （ M. dauuricus and M. hughi）, are distributed from northeast Mongolia to the upper Amur Basin in Russia and adjacent areas in northeast and northern China. In recent years, a population of Mesechinus hedgehogs was discovered from Mt. Gaoligong, southwestern Yunnan, China, far from the known distribution range of the genus. Furthermore, these hedgehogs are the only known population to be distributed at elevations higher than 2 100 m and in sympatry with gymnures. To evaluate the taxonomic status of these hedgehogs, we examined specimens representing Mesechinus taxa in China and further conducted morphometric and karyotypic analyses. Our results supported the existence of four species in China. Specifically, we identified the hedgehogs from Mt. Gaoligong as a new species, Mesechinus wangi sp. nov., and recognized M. miodon, previously considered as a synonym of either M. dauuricus or M. hughi as a distinct species. Interestingly, we observed a supernumerary M4 on all specimens of Mesechinus wangi sp. nov., which is an extremely rare event in the evolution of mammalian dentition.

关 键 词：Mesechinus Taxonomy MorphometricsInhibitory cascade KARYOTYPE New speciesSupernumerary molar 

分 类 号：Q959[生物学—动物学]