Mitochondrial and nuclear markers suggest Hanuman langur (Primates: Colobinae) polyphyly: Implications for their species status

• Published in: Molecular phylogenetics and evolution Vol. 54; no. 2; pp. 627 - 633
• Main Authors: Karanth, K. Praveen, Singh, Lalji, Stewart, Caro-Beth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-02-2010
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Colobinae - classification; Colobinae - genetics; Cytochrome b; Cytochromes b - genetics; DNA, Mitochondrial - genetics; Evolution, Molecular; Genetic Markers; Genetic Speciation; India; Lineage sorting; Models, Genetic; Molecular Sequence Data; Molecular systematics; Phylogeny; Protamine P1; Protamines - genetics; Semnopithecus; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Speciation; Species Specificity; India; Cytochrome b; Molecular systematics; Lineage sorting; Semnopithecus; Protamine P1; Speciation
• ISSN: 1055-7903; 1095-9513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2009.10.034

Recent molecular studies on langurs of the Indian subcontinent suggest that the widely-distributed and morphologically variable Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) are polyphyletic with respect to Nilgiri and purple-faced langurs. To further investigate this scenario, we have analyzed additional sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b as well as nuclear protamine P1 genes from these species. The results confirm Hanuman langur polyphyly in the mitochondrial tree and the nuclear markers suggest that the Hanuman langurs share protamine P1 alleles with Nilgiri and purple-faced langurs. We recommend provisional splitting of the so-called Hanuman langurs into three species such that the taxonomy is consistent with their evolutionary relationships.