Underground speciation: Unraveling the systematics and evolution of the highly diverse tuco-tucos (genus Ctenomys) with genomic data.

Subterranean rodents of the genus Ctenomys (tuco-tucos) are endemic to South America and have experienced relatively recent radiation. There are about 67 recognized species that originated in approximately 1-2 MY. They stand out for their species richness, extraordinary chromosomal diversity, and wide range of habitat they occupy in the continent.

Revision and analysis of the chromosome variability in the speciose genus Akodon (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae), including new data from Argentina.

Rodentia has a high species number and chromosomal variability. The South American genus Akodon is one of the most speciose muroids, with more than 40 species included in several species groups. Here, we characterize cytogenetically specimens of Akodon from central-western Argentina.

The contribution of incomplete lineage sorting and introgression to the evolutionary history of the fast-evolving genus Ctenomys (Rodentia, Ctenomyidae).

Incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) and introgression have been increasingly recognized as important processes involved in biological differentiation. Both ILS and introgression result in incongruences between gene trees and species trees, consequently causing difficulties in phylogenetic reconstruction. This is particularly the case for rapid radiations, as short internodal distances and incomplete reproductive isolation increase the likelihood of both ILS and introgression.

DNA barcodes highlight genetic diversity patterns in rodents from lowland desert and Andean areas in Argentina.

Rodents are an important component of South America fauna. Their high diversity has motivated researchers to continually review their taxonomy, genetic diversity, species limits, and phylogenetic relationships. Here, we applied DNA-barcodes for assessing the taxonomic and genetic diversity in the two major lineages of South American rodents: caviomorphs and sigmodontines.

Geographic variation in quantitative skull traits and systematic of southern populations of the leaf-eared mice of the Phyllotis xanthopygus complex (Cricetidae, Phyllotini) in southern South America.

The leaf-eared mice of the genus Phyllotis (Cricetidae, Phyllotini) encompasses at least 20 species of medium-sized Neotropical rodents mostly distributed throughout the Andean region. Its limits and contents were reviewed by several authors, based both on morphological and molecular data. However, no integrative approaches were conducted based on large samples of individuals with a wide geographical coverage.

Integrative analysis of chromosome banding, telomere localization and molecular genetics in the highly variable Ctenomys of the Corrientes group (Rodentia; Ctenomyidae).

The genus Ctenomys comprises about 70 species with great chromosome diversity. The Corrientes group is one of the most chromosomally variable lineages in the genus, where the diploid number (2n) varies from 41 to 70. In this group, three nominal species and numerous polymorphic and polytypic populations have been described.

Chromosomal variation in Argentine populations of Akodon montensis Thomas, 1913 (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae).

The genus Akodon Meyen, 1833 is one of the most species-rich among sigmodontine rodents and has great chromosome variability. Akodon montensis has a relatively broad distribution in South America, and Argentine populations are located in the southernmost region of its range. Brazilian populations have important chromosomal variability, but cytogenetic data from Argentina are scarce.

Distribution of Telomeric Sequences (TTAGGG)n in Rearranged Chromosomes of Phyllotine Rodents (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae).

Phyllotines are sigmodontine rodents endemic to South America with broad genetic variability, Robertsonian polymorphisms being the most frequent. Moreover, this taxon includes a species with multiple sex chromosomes, which is infrequent in mammals. However, molecular cytogenetic techniques have never been applied to phyllotines to elucidate their karyotypic evolution.

Clues on Syntenic Relationship among Some Species of Oryzomyini and Akodontini Tribes (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae).

Sigmodontinae rodents represent one of the most diverse and complex components of the mammalian fauna of South America. Among them most species belongs to Oryzomyini and Akodontini tribes. The highly specific diversification observed in both tribes is characterized by diploid complements, which vary from 2n = 10 to 86.

Karyotypic variation in the Andean rodent Phyllotisxanthopygus (Waterhouse, 1837) (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae).

Phyllotisxanthopygus (Waterhouse, 1837) is an Andean rodent endemic to South America. Despite its wide geographical distribution in Argentina, few individuals have been studied on the cytogenetic level and only through conventional staining. In this work, chromosome characterization of Argentine samples of this species was performed using solid staining, C-banding and base-specific fluorochromes.