The phylogeny and systematics of the endemic Ethiopian Lophuromys flavopunctatus species complex based upon random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was performed to clarify systematics and phylogenetic relationships within the Ethiopian endemic representatives of Lophuromys flavopunctatus species complex. Data were analysed by both phenetic (UPGMA) and phylogenetic (neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony) procedures. NJ and maximum parsimony analyses yielded identical phylogenetic trees that demonstrate the basal position of L. melanonyx with L. brevicaudus splitting next and sister-group relationship for L. brunneus– L. chrysopus. This phylogenetic pattern is congruent with inferences from allozymes for the considered species suggesting early divergence of Afroalpine species and recent origin of forest taxa. Thus, the results demonstrate that RAPD-PCR might be a useful technique for phylogenetic analysis at the species levels in vertebrates. Controversial taxonomy of L. brevicaudus, L. brunneus and L. chrysopus is clarified, with their specific ranks confirmed on the basis of tree topology and genetic distances.