Discordant phylogenies in the <i>Sorex araneus</i> group (Soricidae, Mammalia): Footprints of past reticulations?

Abstract In the present study, we reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within chromosomally variable Sorex araneus species group based on 20 nuclear loci and mitochondrial cyt b gene. tree, Nearctic S. arcticus represents earliest offshoot of followed by Holarctic tundrensis Siberian daphaenodon . Five other distributed mostly in Europe form a well‐supported clade. Coding regions showed stronger signal than introns. The results suggest high incidence reticulation evolution group. authentic lineage Iberian shrew granarius was found to be close phylogenetically coronatus , which confirms that some populations were introgressed from araneus. Footprints deeper reticulations are revealed for first time, indicating potential hybrid origin lineages. Ancient hybridisations hypothesised source discordance between molecular‐ karyotype‐based reconstructions.