Molecular relationships of species of Pseudantechinus, Parantechinus and Dasykaluta (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae)

The eight currently recognized species of false antechinuses are members of the dasyurid marsupial genera Pseudantechinus, Parantechinus and Dasykaluta. Previous morphological and molecular studies have confidently placed these species in the tribe Dasyurini, but their affinities within that clade are poorly understood. We report phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome b, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, IRBP, s-fibrinogen intron 7 and e-globin intron 1 DNA sequences from one or more exemplars of each species of false antechinus and selected outgroups. The three genera of false antechinuses do not form a monophyletic group, but more specific relationships among them remain unresolved. Branching order within Pseudantechinus is reasonably clear: Ps. bilarni is sister to the other species, among which Ps. woolleyae, Ps. ningbing and Ps. mimulus form successive branches above the root. Our results support the current generic affiliation of Ps. bilarni, in agreement with previous morphological and allozyme studies, though this support is not strong. Our data fail to demonstrate reciprocal monophyly of Ps. macdonnellensis and Ps. roryi haplotypes, suggesting instead that populations within this group have a complex phylogeographic structure that will only be elucidated with more detailed field sampling.