<i>Cytb</i> -based identification and phylogenetic placement of red fox ( <i>Vulpes vulpes</i> ) in Southeastern Anatolia (Türkiye)

Non-invasive genetic approaches provide reliable tools for species identification, particularly in cases where morphological traits are ambiguous. This study investigated the potential presence of Rüppell’s fox (Vulpes rueppellii) in Southeastern Anatolia (Türkiye), prompted by camera trap images showing features that could be attributed to either V. rueppellii or the red fox (V. vulpes). Mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) sequences were obtained from fecal samples and analyzed using Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic methods, complemented by haplotype network analysis. All sequences showed high similarity (99-100%) to V. vulpes and clustered within the V. vulpes reference sequences. No genetic evidence supporting the presence of V. rueppellii was detected. The haplotype network further confirmed the placement of all samples within the Holarctic lineage of V. vulpes. These findings demonstrate that the individuals observed in the study area belong to V. vulpes, despite morphological variation that could suggest otherwise. The results highlight the importance of mitochondrial DNA-based methods for accurate species identification in non-invasive studies, particularly in regions where closely related taxa may occur.