First complete mitochondrial genome analysis of Madras hedgehog sheds new light on the enigmatic species

The archetypal investigation of the implicit mitochondrial genome of the Madras hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris), besides known arsenic the bare-bellied hedgehog, has helped shed immoderate much invaluable penetration into the evolutionary past of the enigmatic species.

The survey titled ‘Mitochondrial genome of the lesser known Madras hedgehog: genomic characterization and comparative investigation wrong Erinacidae’ was published successful the peer-reviewed technological diary ‘Mitochondrial DNA Part A.’

Speaking to The Hindu, R. Brawin Kumar, 1 of the authors of the paper, said that the species, which was among 4 hedgehog taxon recovered successful India, has for agelong been a “scientific mystery” with nary familial information disposable to recognize its “evolutionary origins, relationships with different hedgehog taxon and conservation needs.” The taxon inhabits semi-arid plains, adust grasslands, thorn forests and rocky landscapes.

“The probe team, comprising Brawin Kumar, Harald Meimberg (BOKU University, Vienna, Austria), and Thapasya Vijayan (BOKU University, Vienna, Austria), successfully assembled, annotated, and analysed the implicit mitochondrial genome of the Madras hedgehog for the archetypal clip successful technological history. The mitochondrial genome sequenced successful this survey is 17,232 basal pairs agelong and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transportation RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes, the modular architecture for vertebrate mitochondrial genomes,” a property merchandise from the squad stated.

Findings

The investigation established the Madras hedgehog was a closely-related sister taxon to the Indian hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus) and that the 2 taxon diverged evolutionarily astir 3.69 cardinal years ago, during the precocious Pliocene to aboriginal Pleistocene period, which the authors enactment was a clip of large climatic and geological alteration crossed South Asia.

The DNA utilized for the survey were obtained from hedgehogs that were killed by vehicles connected the roadworthy implicit 62 quadrate kilometers successful Thoothukudi district. “This probe is important for respective reasons beyond its contiguous technological findings. India is location to an bonzer tiny mammal biodiversity, overmuch of which remains poorly studied. The Madras hedgehog is simply a flagship example, a taxon that has lived alongside quality communities successful confederate India for millennia, yet whose basal familial individuality was chartless until now,” the squad added.

Mr. Brawin Kumar said that the investigation volition beryllium highly important successful safeguarding the aboriginal of the species. He called connected the State governments wherever the taxon is found, to undertake surveys successful each districts, to amended recognize the organisation scope of the species.