AUTHOR=Peres Pedro H. F. , Luduvério Douglas J. , Bernegossi Agda Maria , Galindo David J. , Nascimento Guilherme B. , Oliveira Márcio L. , Sandoval Eluzai Dinai Pinto , Vozdova Miluse , Kubickova Svatava , Cernohorska Halina , Duarte José Maurício Barbanti 

TITLE=Revalidation of Mazama rufa (Illiger 1815) (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) as a Distinct Species out of the Complex Mazama americana (Erxleben 1777)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.742870

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2021.742870

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>The red brocket deer <italic>Mazama americana</italic> Erxleben, 1777 is considered a polyphyletic complex of cryptic species with wide chromosomal divergence. Evidence indicates that the observed chromosomal divergences result in reproductive isolation. The description of a neotype for <italic>M. americana</italic> allowed its genetic characterization and represented a comparative basis to resolve the taxonomic uncertainties of the group. Thus, we designated a neotype for the synonym <italic>Mazama rufa</italic> Illiger, 1815 and tested its recognition as a distinct species from the <italic>M. americana</italic> complex with the analysis of morphological, cytogenetic and molecular data. We also evaluated its distribution by sampling fecal DNA in the wild. Morphological data from craniometry and body biometry indicated an overlap of quantitative measurements between <italic>M. rufa</italic> and the entire <italic>M. americana</italic> complex. The phylogenetic hypothesis obtained through mtDNA confirmed the reciprocal monophyly relationship between <italic>M. americana</italic> and <italic>M. rufa</italic>, and both were identified as distinct molecular operational taxonomic units by the General Mixed Yule Coalescent species delimitation analysis. Finally, classic cytogenetic data and fluorescence in situ hybridization with whole chromosome painting probes showed <italic>M. rufa</italic> with a karyotype of 2n = 52, FN = 56. Comparative analysis indicate that at least fifteen rearrangements separate <italic>M. rufa</italic> and <italic>M. americana</italic> (<italic>sensu stricto</italic>) karyotypes, which confirmed their substantial chromosomal divergence. This divergence should represent an important reproductive barrier and allow its characterization as a distinct and valid species. Genetic analysis of fecal samples demonstrated a wide distribution of <italic>M. rufa</italic> in the South American continent through the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and south region of Amazon. Thus, we conclude for the revalidation of <italic>M. rufa</italic> as a distinct species under the concept of biological isolation, with its karyotype as the main diagnostic character. The present work serves as a basis for the taxonomic review of the <italic>M. americana</italic> complex, which should be mainly based on cytogenetic characterization and directed towards a better sampling of the Amazon region, the evaluation of available names in the species synonymy and a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis.</p>