Philippine E-Journals

Morpho-anatomical Characterization and Phylogenetic Position of Two Newly Discovered Rhynchomys Species (R. Labo & R. Mingan) in Luzon Island Philippines and their Conservation Status

Vivien Anne Aquino, | Ellona Andrea Hernandez | Enrico C. Garcia

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

One of the known species of the Old-World rats that can be found in the Philippines is the Rhynchomys or shrew like-rats. The genus Rhynchomys has four species which are R. isarogensis, R. soricoides, R. banahao, and R. tapulao. Recently, there are two newly discovered species in the genus, R. labo and R. mingan. Thus, this study assesses Rhynchomys species including the two newly discovered species that were found in the Luzon Island, Philippines. The IUCN Red List was used by the researchers in order to evaluate the conservation status of the species. A bibliographical approach was also used to identify and compare their morphoanatomy. By comparing and analyzing the morphoanatomical characteristics of the six species and based on previous study of four Rhynchomys’ phylogeny, the phylogenetic position of R. labo and R. mingan were able to determine. The assessment of their conservation status was R. banahao listed as Least Concern, R. isarogensis under Vulnerable, R. soricoides listed as Near Threatened, R. tapulao is in Data Deficient, and R, labo and R. mingan are still Not Evaluated. As the researchers described the body, head, forefeet, hind feet, and tail of all Rhynchomys species, they have identified that R. labo is closely related to R. isarogensis and R. mingan is to R. soricoides. The findings of this study will provide additional references for future researchers making studies about rats, specifically in the genus Rhynchomys. This could also be the first study to provide an updated geographic distribution and morphoanatomical phylogenetic tree of all six Rhynchomys species.