The Subspecific Biochemical Taxonomy of Antechinus minimus, A. swainsonii and Sminthopsis leucopus (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae)

Abstract

Electrophoretic variation in mainland and Tasmanian populations of Antechinus minimus, A. swainsonii and Sminthopsis leucopus was examined. The degree of genetic divergence observed among the trans-Bassian populations of each species corroborates the currently accepted subspecific rankings of A. minimus minimus and A. m. maritimus, A. swainsonii swainsonii and A. s. mimetes, and S. leucopus leucopus and S.l. ferruginifrons. The Flinders Island population of A. minimus was tentatively referred to the mainland subspecies, A. m. maritimus, on the basis of genetic similarity. Generally, levels of genetic divergence were found to be low when compared to those of similar taxonomic ranks in other animals.