PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE GALAGINAE AS INDICATED BY ERYTHROCYTIC ALLOZYMES

At least four hypotheses regarding the phylogenetic relationships with in the Galaginae have been proposed, based on features of karyology, m orphology, and behaviour, but these hypotheses share few common elemen ts. Here we investigate erythrocytic allozymes as potential phylogenet ic markers, and subject our results to a cladistic analysis. Our study offers little support for the previous models, but suggests instead t hat the greater galagos and G. alleni form a clade since they share ch aracter states for eight of the ten systems examined. The two lesser g alago species could not be distinguished using these enzymes, and char acter states common to them and the allenicrassicaudatus-garnettii cla de were found in only four systems. Our resultant cladogram accords we ll with the rather scant galagine fossil record. The data also show st rong concordance with results obtained using highly repeated DNA seque nces, which indicate that the galagos form a close-knit genetic group, while the Malagasy lemurids show considerably more inter-taxic variat ion.