Chromosomes and phylogeography of Sylvilagus (Mammalia, Leporidae) from Eastern Brazil

Abstract

A large geographic differentiation has been reported in Sylvilagus brasiliensis based on external characters of a small number of specimens. A new karyotype with 2n = 40 and FNa = 74 from Rio de Janeiro is herein reported. Phylogenetic analyses based on cytochrome b DNA of eight samples from the states of Paraíba, Tocantins, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro suggested a strongly structured population. Altogether, molecular and karyotypic data suggested that the diversity of Sylvilagus in eastern Brazil may be larger than the one reported in the literature on the basis of external characters.