Interspecific relationships and biogeography of some Bornean tree shrews (Tupaiidae Tupaia), based on DNA hybridization and morphometric comparisons

The interspecific relationships and biogeography of seven southeast Asian tree shrew species in the genus Tupaia were examined by DNA hybridization and multivariate morphometric analysis. Urogale everetti served as the outgroup. DNA hybridization data indicate that T. tana is most closely related to T. montana, and they form a clade with T. minor. Morphometric comparisons indicate that T. tana and T. minor, and T. montana and T. palawanensis, form groups that, together, are most similar to T. glis. T. javanica and U. everetti cluster outside the rest of Tupaia. The DNA hybridization data support a model of Bornean speciation driven by sea-level changes. They also indicate either (1) that there is a large variation in the rate of tree shrew evolution or (2) that U. everetti may in fact be a member of the ingroup. When considered in light of the phylogenetic results, the morphometric data suggest substantial convergence in body size or correlation in character changes.