Relationships among brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences

The brown lemurs (Eulemur fulvus) include seven subspecies, whose evolution ary relationships remain contentious. In particular, it is unclear whether the Malagasy and Comorian E. f. fulvus populations are differentiated at th e subspecific level (E. f. mayottensis). Furthermore, it has been suggested that E. f. collaris and E. f. albocollaris are separate species. Analyses of similar to 2400 bp of mitochondrial DNA sequence data from part of the C OIII gene, together with complete genes for ND3, ND4L, and ND4 and 5 tRNAs, resolved 34 E. fulvus specimens into six clades: ((albocollaris, collaris) (rufus (rufus (fulvus/mayottensis (albifronsl fulvus/sanfordi))))). Based on the information available and our analyses we conclude that E. f. alboco llaris and E. f. collaris do not represent species distinct from E. fulvus and that Comorian brown lemurs do not deserve subspecific rank. No genetic differentiation was detected between E. f. albifrons and E. f. sanfordi; on the other hand, there are obviously two separate lineages of E. f. rufus. (C) 2000 Academic Press.