Phylogenetic Relationships Between Zokors Myospalax (Mammalia, Rodentia) Determined on the Basis of Morphometric and Molecular Analyses

Phylogenetic relationships between zokors living in different territories of Russia: Altai zokors Myospalax myospalax from “Altai” (Altai Republic and Altaiskii Krai) and “Priobie” from the River Ob zone (Tomsk oblast and Novosibirsk oblast) and subspecies M. m. tarbagataicus from Kazakhstan (ridge Tarbagatai) and M. aspalax and M. psilurus from Zabaikalskii Krai were determined on the basis of craniometrical and molecular analysis of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. The comparison of the craniometrical and molecular data revealed significant differences between the Altai zokors of the “Priobie” (the River Ob zone) and “Altai” populations. The importance of geographic isolation to the formation of morphometric and genetic differentiation of distinct geographic forms of the investigated zokors is shown. Specific ecological and morphological adaptations and distinct genetic features of two forms of zokors indicate the existence of separate subspecies of the species M. myospalax.