Genome-wide SNP and mtDNA phylogeny of blind mole rats (Spalacinae Gray, 1821) reflects a complex history of relictualism, expansion, and speciation

Abstract The evolutionary history and systematics of blind mole rats (BMR), subfamily Spalacinae (Gray, 1821), are complicated by uneven geographic sampling and insufficient phylogenetic resolution provided by a few individual gene sequences. We combined genome-wide SNPs (ddRAD-seq) and mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequences with cytogenetic and biogeographic context to resolve the key phylogenetic relationships in this diverse group, using a large set of samples from different parts of the subfamily’s entire geographic range. The previously resolved phylogeny within the Spalax (Gündenstaedt, 1770) genus is confirmed and refined. In the genus Nannospalax (Palmer, 1903), all sampled populations and chromosomal forms were grouped into four major clades: three of them had originated and diversified in Anatolia and the Northern Levant, while the fourth colonized the European subcontinent. Molecular dating suggested that intensive divergence in all branches of the subfamily occurred within the past 1 Myr, but there was a pause in the speciation process after the Middle Pleistocene Transition, between approximately 0.6 and 0.4 Mya. Presently, multiple and highly divergent subclades are found in small and fragmented geographic ranges, but a few occupy large continuous territories and demonstrate comparatively low levels of genetic diversity.

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Publication Details

Journal
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Published
2025-11-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaf186
Primary Topic
Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Type
article
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article

Genome-wide SNP and mtDNA phylogeny of blind mole rats (Spalacinae Gray, 1821) reflects a complex history of relictualism, expansion, and speciation

Nedko NEDYALKOV, Kubilay Toyran, Servet Ulutürk, Halil Mert Solak et al.
Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Evolution and Paleontology Studies
article

Genome-wide SNP and mtDNA phylogeny of blind mole rats (Spalacinae Gray, 1821) reflects a complex history of relictualism, expansion, and speciation

Nedko NEDYALKOV, Kubilay Toyran, Servet Ulutürk, Halil Mert Solak, Mikhail Rusin, Mounir R. Abi-Said, Attila D. Sándor, Ortaç Çetintaş, Adel A. Basyouny Shahin, Alexey Yanchukov, Raşit Bilgin, Mariam Gabelaia, Boris Kryštufek, Kürşat Kenan Kalkan, Vanja Bugarski-Stanojević, Ferhat Matur, Faruk Çolak, Mustafa Sözen, Matěj Lövy
article en

Abstract

Abstract The evolutionary history and systematics of blind mole rats (BMR), subfamily Spalacinae (Gray, 1821), are complicated by uneven geographic sampling and insufficient phylogenetic resolution provided by a few individual gene sequences. We combined genome-wide SNPs (ddRAD-seq) and mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) sequences with cytogenetic and biogeographic context to resolve the key phylogenetic relationships in this diverse group, using a large set of samples from different parts of the subfamily’s entire geographic range. The previously resolved phylogeny within the Spalax (Gündenstaedt, 1770) genus is confirmed and refined. In the genus Nannospalax (Palmer, 1903), all sampled populations and chromosomal forms were grouped into four major clades: three of them had originated and diversified in Anatolia and the Northern Levant, while the fourth colonized the European subcontinent. Molecular dating suggested that intensive divergence in all branches of the subfamily occurred within the past 1 Myr, but there was a pause in the speciation process after the Middle Pleistocene Transition, between approximately 0.6 and 0.4 Mya. Presently, multiple and highly divergent subclades are found in small and fragmented geographic ranges, but a few occupy large continuous territories and demonstrate comparatively low levels of genetic diversity.

Zoological Journal of the Linnean SocietyVol. 206(1)
Sabancı Üniversitesi (TR), Lebanese University (LB), Ilia State University (GE), Dokuz Eylül University (TR), University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca (RO), Charles University (CZ), Slovenian Museum of Natural History (SI), Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (TR), University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CZ), Leibniz Association (DE), Batman University (TR), University of Belgrade (RS), Institute for Biodiversity (DE), I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology (UA), Institute of Physics Belgrade (RS), National Museum of Natural History (BG), Minia University Hospital (EG), Boğaziçi University (TR), Minia University (EG), Lebanese International University (LB)
Life in Land
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Evolution and Paleontology Studies
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