Molecular phylogenetics of the Neotoma floridana species group

Phylogenetic relationships among 4 subspecies of Neotoma floridana and sist er species from the United States and Mexico were examined using DNA sequen ce data from the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Parsimony, likelihood , and neighbor-joining analyses support the recognition of N. f. magister a s a distinct species (N. magister). Populations of eastern woodrats from th e southern and western United States also possessed relatively high levels of sequence divergence (5.3%), which may be indicative of ongoing divergenc e between these populations. These findings support conclusions from previo us studies and add clarity to the biogeographic processes influencing evolu tion and diversification of this group of rodents.