MtDNA confirms the presence of moschus leucogaster (Ruminantia, moschidae) in gaurishankar conservation area, Nepal

Abstract

mtDNA confirms the presence of Moschus leucogaster (Ruminantia, Moschidae) in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal. Musk deer (genus Moschus), an endangered mammal, is not only of great concern for its conservation, but it is also of great interest to understand its taxonomic and phylogenetic associations in Nepal. The aim of this study was to identify the taxonomic status of musk deer in Gaurishankar Conservation Area (GCA) using mitochondrial genomic data of cytochrome b (370 bps) through phylogenetic analysis of all the species of musk deer. The results showed that the species found in GCA is confirmed as Himalayan musk deer Moschus leucogaster, further expanding its distributional range in Nepal.