Revision of moles in the genus Scapanus

Abstract

Scapanus latimanus is a species with many morphological differences among its populations.  This variation is associated with multiple taxonomic changes at the species or subspecies level.  This study incorporates genetic analyses and comparisons with previous morphological studies to propose a better understanding of the latimanus complex.  Mitochondrial markers (cytochrome b; cytochrome c oxidase subunit I; and cytochrome c oxidase subunit III) were sequenced to construct a phylogeny for the subfamily Scalopinae in North America.  Genetic distances ranged from 2.49 to 10.50 % among geographic areas.  Results identified three monophyletic clades with high bootstrap support values.  Based on our phylogenetic analysis and previous morphological analyses, we confirm S. anthonyi from San Pedro Mártir as a valid species and propose that S. occultus from southern California and northern Baja California peninsula be considered as a species