ALLOZYME DIVERGENCE AND SYSTEMATICS OF COMMON MOLE-RATS (CRYPTOMYS, BATHYERGIDAE, RODENTIA) FROM ZAMBIA

Studied allozymic diversity encoded by 34 gene loci in African common mole-rats, Cryptomys sp., comprising two populations from Zambia and r e-analyzed allozymic diversity encoded by 25 gene loci in Cryptomys da marensis, C. hottentotus, and C. natalensis from South Africa. This is the first genetic study of Cryptomys populations originating from out side the South African Subregion. The dichotomy between C. damarensis on the one hand and C. hottentotus and C. natalensis on the other hand revealed by previous studies was reconfirmed. Both Zambian population s are specifically distinct from each other and both are distant from all the South African species. Zambian Cryptomys are much closer to C. damarensis than to both other species. Interpretation of results of t he allozymic study is corroborated by data on other biological aspects . We show that currently used morphological criteria for classificatio n of Cryptomys are apparently wrong and that the genus Cryptomys requi res urgently a modern large-scale revision based on allozymes, karyoty pes and phenotypic variations.