Characterizing cryptic species: A morphometric analysis of craniodental characters in the dwarf galago genus Galagoides. Issue 2 (14th July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masters, Judith C.; Couette, Sébastien
• Is Part Of: American journal of physical anthropology. Volume 158:Issue 2(2015)
• Page Start: 288
• Page End: 299
• Publication Date: 2015-07-14
• Subjects: Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Anthropology -- Periodicals; Anthropologie physique -- Périodiques; 599.9
• DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.22792
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-9483

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="ajpa22792-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>The true dwarf galagos of the genus <italic>Galagoides</italic>, <italic>G. demidoff</italic> and <italic>G. thomasi</italic>, are difficult to distinguish morphologically at a specific or subspecific level, and most taxonomic designations are based primarily on geographic localities. We used morphometrics to investigate the morphological diversity of the genus.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajpa22792-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and Methods</title> <p>We conducted statistical analyses of 12 linear measurements on 290 <italic>Galagoides</italic> skulls housed in museums worldwide, and assembled body weights for 71 wild caught specimens. We examined sexual dimorphism and specific and subspecific distinctiveness using MANOVA, ANOVA, principle components analysis and canonical variate analysis.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajpa22792-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>We distinguished skulls identified as <italic>Galagoides demidoff</italic> and <italic>G. thomasi</italic> with ∼70% reliability, and demonstrated consistently different patterns of static allometry in craniodental variables. Variables supporting specific distinction included M<sup>1</sup> width, palate width at P<sup>2</sup>, palate (snout) length, length of premaxillary tube, width across mastoids, and total skull length. The type specimens of <italic>G. orinus</italic> and <italic>G. rondoensis</italic> were significantly different from <italic>G. demidoff</italic> and <italic>G. thomasi</italic>, but grouped with them in a CVA including <italic>G. zanzibaricus</italic> and <italic>G. granti</italic>, although molecular studies indicate that their true affiliation is with the latter species. Subspecies within <italic>G. demidoff</italic> could not be distinguished using craniodental morphometrics.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajpa22792-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Discussion</title> <p> <italic>Galagoides demidoff</italic> and <italic>G. thomasi</italic> can be distinguished relatively reliably, and are broadly sympatric across western and central Africa. Neither species showed evidence of sexual dimorphism in craniodental size or shape. Size variation has a greater influence on skull morphology in <italic>G. demidoff</italic> than it has on <italic>G. thomasi</italic>. Am J Phys Anthropol 158:288–299, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>