Mitochondrial evidence indicates a shallow phylogeographic structure for Jaculus blanfordi (Murray, 1884) populations (Rodentia: Dipodidae)

Abstract

Our study was performed on the phylogeographic structure of Blanford s jerboa ( Jaculus blanfordi(Murray, 1884))collected from nine localities in Iran, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and was based on mitochondrial evidence indicating a slightphylogeographic divergence among the populations. We aimed to amplify two frequently used mitochondrial markers, cytochrome b(cytb ) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) fragments, from 33 specimens obtained from the abovementioned countries. Ourphylogeographic analyses uncovered two distinct groups, thus supporting the presence of two subspecies:J. b. blanfordiin Iran andJ.b. turcmenicusin northern Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Finally, we discuss the intraspecies genetic structure of Blanford s jerboa inrelation to the biogeography of the Middle East and Middle Asia.