Zoological Survey of India develops DNA barcodes for 169-year-old spiny tree mouse species
The DNA barcoding, similar to generating an Aadhaar number for citizens, paves the way for a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary history of these species.
Sources in ZSI told TOI though the species was discovered in 1856, it had no individual identity as a species and was categorised under the subfamily of Typhlomys, the Chinese pygmy dormouse, due to similar features. However, scientists have now successfully uncovered the polymorphism features of these species.
"The DNA barcoding and generation of the genetic data for these mouse species have established that these species are much more ancient than their Chinese counterparts that were documented in recent centuries," said Dr KP Dinesh, a scientist from ZSI, western regional centre, Pune.
These frugivorous species live in tree holes and are nocturnal in nature. "They are distributed across forests between Kodagu in Karnataka and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala.
Unlike all the species that have undergone morphological changes as part of evolution, these spiny tree mice have not undergone any change. Hence, they are referred to as living fossils," explained Dr Dinesh.
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"The molecular dating suggests the origin of the ancestors of these spiny tree mice dates back to the Eocene period (56 to 33.9 million years ago), which is likely a Gondwanan relic that persisted in the Western Ghats.
Hence, the present lineage of Platacanthomys could be a relict taking refuge in the hill ranges of the Western Ghats, whose ancestors might have gone extinct due to various geological events in the past," he said.
The latest specimen of the Malabar spiny tree mouse was sourced from Suryamudi in Wayanad district of Kerala during a periodic survey on small mammals. Subsequently, scientists from ZSI's western regional centre, Western Ghats regional centre in Kozhikode, and southern regional centre in Chennai collaborated for the study and published the findings in the Journal of Animal Diversity.
Dr Dhiriti Banerjee, director of ZSI, said this genetic data on these historic and enigmatic species is vital, especially in the backdrop of climate change.
Dr SS Talmale, the lead author, highlighted the immediate need for targeted habitat conservation of these species that live within 50 metres to 2,270 metres altitude. "They have already been listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Act 1972," he pointed out.
Another scientist, Dr MJ Palot, described it as a very elusive and rare species. "Despite years of fieldwork, I have seen it only a few times, and the recovery of a specimen at Suryamudi is indeed a rare chance."
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