a preliminary molecular study of the iranian species of calomyscus (rodentia- calomyscidae) using rflp

the calomyscidae is a small family of rodentia that has recently been classified into 8 species in a single genus, calomyscus. currently 5 species are reported in iran: c. elburzensis,، c. bailwardi، c. grandis ، c. urartensis and c. hotsoni. species discrimination based on morphological characteristics is difficult, so this study re-evaluated the phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic status of the morphotypes within calomyscus using pcrrflp as a molecular marker. forty-seven samples of calomyscus spp from 9 geographically separated regions of iran were analyzed. the cytochrome b gene was amplified by pcr, digested using 3 restriction enzymes, hinfi, hincii and haeiii, and the patterns separated electrophoretically. species of long tailed hamster were discriminated from one another. a phylogenetic analysis of the dataset produced well distinguished clades.