DNA methylation networks underlying mammalian traits.

Using DNA methylation profiles ( = 15,456) from 348 mammalian species, we constructed phyloepigenetic trees that bear marked similarities to traditional phylogenetic ones. Using unsupervised clustering across all samples, we identified 55 distinct cytosine modules, of which 30 are related to traits such as maximum life span, adult weight, age, sex, and human mortality risk. Maximum life span is associated with methylation levels in subclass homeobox genes and developmental processes and is potentially regulated by pluripotency transcription factors.

SUCKING LICE (PHTHIRAPTERA: ANOPLURA) PARASITIZING MONGOLIAN RODENTS WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF HOPLOPLEURA FROM MOUNTAIN VOLES (ALTICOLA SPP.).

The sucking louse fauna associated with Mongolian mammals is inadequately known. We provide a list of 25 species of sucking lice recorded from Mongolian rodents including previously published records, and new records of specimens collected during an expedition to northwestern Mongolia in 2015. Hoplopleura inagakii Ono and Hasegawa and Polyplax cricetulis Chin are newly recorded from Mongolia and 2 new host associations in Mongolia are recorded for Hoplopleura acanthopus (Burmeister).

A New Species of Sucking Louse from the Long-tailed Ground Squirrel, , from Mongolia, with a Key to Species, and a Review of Host Associations and Geographical Distributions of Members of the Genus (Psocodea: Anoplura: Polyplacidae).

Members of the genus are ectoparasites of ground squirrels and marmots (Rodentia: Sciuridae) in the Nearctic, Palearctic, and Afrotropical regions. n. sp.

Impacts of late Quaternary environmental change on the long-tailed ground squirrel () in Mongolia.

Impacts of Quaternary environmental changes on mammal faunas of central Asia remain poorly understood due to a lack of geographically comprehensive phylogeographic sampling for most species. To help address this knowledge gap, we conducted the most extensive molecular analysis to date of the long-tailed ground squirrel ( Pallas 1778) in Mongolia, a country that comprises the southern core of this species' range. Drawing on material from recent collaborative field expeditions, we genotyped 128 individuals at 2 mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I; 1 797 bp total).

Multilocus systematics and non-punctuated evolution of Holarctic Myodini (Rodentia: Arvicolinae).

The tribe Myodini consists of five genera of forest and alpine voles (Alticola, Caryomys, Eothenomys, Hyperacrius and Myodes) distributed throughout the Holarctic. Because mitochondrial evidence has revealed paraphyly and polyphyly among genera, we apply the first multilocus tests to clarify taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships. Our analyses of 28 of 36 species within Myodini, including three not previously sequenced (A.

Coccidia (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the lagomorph Lepus tolai in Mongolia.

In 1999, a single specimen of the Tolai hare, Lepus tolai Pallas, 1778, from the Gobi region of Mongolia was examined and had a new species of eimerian parasite in its intestinal contents. Eimeria gobiensis n. sp.

Mobile larynx in Mongolian gazelle: Retraction of the larynx during rutting barks in male Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa Pallas, 1777).

This study provides the first evidence of pronounced temporary laryngeal descent in a bovid species. An elaborate acoustic display is prominent in male courtship behavior of polygynous Mongolian gazelle. During rut, rounding up of females is accompanied by continuous head-up barking by dominant males.

A new nematode, Soboliphyme ataahai sp. n. (Nematoda: Soboliphymidae) from Laxmann's shrew, Sorex caecutiens Laxmann, 1788 in Mongolia.

This report describes a new species of the soboliphymid nematode, Soboliphyme ataahai sp. n. from Laxmann's shrew, Sorex caecutiens.