Sains Malaysiana 47(10)(2018): 2533–2542

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4710-30

 

Rediscovery of Nycticebus coucang insularis Robinson, 1917 (Primates: Lorisidae) at Tioman Island and its Mitochondrial Genetic Assessment

(Penemuan Semula Nycticebus coucang insularis Robinson, 1917 (Primate: Lorisidae) di Pulau Tioman dan Penilaian Genetik Mitokondrianya)

 

JEFFRINE J. ROVIE-RYAN1,2*, MILLAWATI GANI1, HAN MING GAN3,4, GILMOORE G. BOLONGON5, TAN CHENG CHENG5, NORAZLINDA RAZAK5, NORSYAMIMI ROSLI1,2, MOHD AZIZOL AZIZ5 & KALIP MATKASIM6

 

1National Wildlife Forensic Laboratory (NWFL), Ex-Situ Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

2Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia

 

3School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, Deakin University, Locked Bag 20001, Geelong, Victoria 3220, Australia

 

4Genomic Facility, School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

5Biodiversity Conservation Division, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), KM 10 Jalan Cheras, 56100 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

6Institute of Biodiversity, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN), Bukit Rengit, 28500 Lanchang, Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

 

Diserahkan: 19 Ogos 2017/ Diterima: 21 Jun 2018

 

ABSTRACT

Slow lorises (Nycticebus) consist of eight species native to Southeast Asia while three species are recognised in Malaysia - N. coucang, N. menagensis and N. kayan. This study reports on the rediscovery of the subspecies N. coucang insularis Robinson, 1917 in Tioman Island and the genetic assessment of its mitochondrial DNA variation. Morphological measurements conform the specimen as the putative N. coucang but with distinct colour and markings. Two mitochondrial DNA segments (cytochrome b and control region) were produced from the subspecies representing their first registered sequences in GenBank. Genetically, the subspecies showed 99% of nucleotide similarity to N. coucang species type for both the DNA segments and constitute its own unique haplotype. Phylogenetic trees constructed using three methods (neighbour joining, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference) showed two major groups within Nycticebus; the basal group was formed by N. pygmaeus while the second group consisted of the remaining Nycticebus species. The phylogenetic position of the subspecies, however, remains unresolved due to the observed mixing between N. coucang and N. bengalensis. Several reasons could lead to this condition including the lack of well documented voucher specimens and the short DNA fragments used. In addition, the possibility of hybridisation event between N. coucang and N. bengalensis could not be excluded as a possible explanation since both species occur sympatrically at the Isthmus of Kra region until the Thailand-Malaysia border. The rediscovery of this subspecies displays the unique faunal diversity that justifies the importance of Tioman Island as a protected area.

 

Keywords: mtDNA; Nycticebus coucang insularis; phylogenetic relationships; rediscovery; subspecies

 

ABSTRAK

Kongkang (Nycticebus) terdiri daripada lapan spesies yang berasal dari Asia Tenggara dengan tiga spesies dijumpai di Malaysia - N. coucang, N. menagensis dan N. kayan. Kajian ini melaporkan penemuan semula subspesies N. coucang insularis Robinson, 1917 di Pulau Tioman dan penilaian genetik DNA mitochondrianya. Ukuran morfologi yang diambil pada individu tersebut menunjukkan ia menyerupai spesies putatif N. coucang namun terdapat perbezaan warna dan tanda pada badan. Dua segmen DNA mitokondria (sitokrom b dan rantau kawalan) dihasilkan daripada subspesies tersebut merupakan jujukan DNA pertama yang didaftarkan dalam GenBank. Secara genetik, subspesies ini menunjukkan 99% persamaan nukleotida kepada jenis spesies N. coucang pada kedua-dua segmen DNA dan membentuk haplotip tersendiri. Pohon filogeni yang dibina menggunakan tiga kaedah (jiran sambung, kebolehjadian maksimum dan pentakbiran Bayesian) mendedahkan dua kumpulan utama dalam Nycticebus; kumpulan dasar dibentuk oleh N. pygmaeus manakala kumpulan kedua terdiri daripada spesies Nycticebus yang lain. Kedudukan filogenetik subspesies ini bagaimanapun masih tidak dapat diuraikan kerana pencampuran yang diperhatikan antara N. coucang dan N. bengalensis. Beberapa sebab boleh membawa kepada keadaan ini termasuk kekurangan dokumentasi baucer spesimen yang betul dan jujukan DNA pendek yang digunakan dalam analisis. Selain itu, kemungkinan kejadian hibridisasi antara N. coucang dan N. bengalensis tidak boleh dikecualikan sebagai penjelasan kerana kedua-dua spesies wujud secara simpatri dari kawasan Isthmus of Kra hingga sempadan Thailand-Malaysia. Penemuan semula subspesies ini memaparkan kepelbagaian fauna unik di Pulau Tioman yang menunjukkan kepentingannya sebagai kawasan perlindungan.

 

Kata kunci: Hubungan filogenetik; mtDNA; Nycticebus coucang insularis; penemuan semula; subspesies

 

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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: jeffrine@wildlife.gov.my

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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