Molecular Biology and Evolution, Vol 9, 447-456, Copyright © 1992 by Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution
P Prinsloo and TJ Robinson
Restriction-fragment-length polymorphisms in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were
used to evaluate geographic population genetic structure in the rock hyrax,
Procavia capensis, a species which occurs widely, though restricted to
rocky habitat, throughout South Africa. Ten restriction endonucleases were
employed to assay mtDNAs from 55 specimens representing 10 localities.
Haplotypes showed strong geographic patterning, and estimates of nucleotide
sequence divergence indicate two major clades thought to be dispersing
along separate routes. The divergence time of approximately 2 Myr between
clades is relatively high for intraspecific variation. We speculate that
the marked genetic break distinguishing the northwestern populations from
those constituting the south/central clade may be indicative of two species
in what has conventionally been regarded as P. capensis.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Geographic mitochondrial DNA variation in the rock hyrax, Procavia capensis
Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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