There is some discrepancy in the classification of different species of Hylopetes,particularly regarding systematic status of H.electilis and H.phayrei and their relationship to other species.In the present study,for the first time we have brought together six of the nine Hylopetes species and performed statistical analysis of 14 measurable cranial variables,analyzing in total 89 specimens,including H.electilis,H.alboniger,H.phayrei,H.lepidus,H.spadiceus,and H.nigripes.Both univariate and multivariate analysis results indicate that H.electilis can not only be obviously distinguished from H.phayrei,but also clearly differs from the other four Hylopetes species.These results sustain the contention that H.electilis is neither a synonym nor subspecies of H.phayrei,but should be considered a distinct and valid species.Subsequently,a straightforward discussion on the biogeography of Hylopetes in southeastern Asia gives further insight into the differentiation and variety of species belonging to this genus.
The present study revisited the controversial taxonomic status ofPetaurista yunanensis, P. philippensis, P. hainana, and P. petaurista by using a considerably extended set of morphometrical characters （26 cranial variables from 60 adult specimen skulls）. The results revealed no sexual dimorphism in any of the four species but confirmed significant craniometric differences among the four species in both the principal components analysis （PCA） and discriminant function analysis （DFA）, with the greatest distinction observed between P. petaurista and other Petaurista species. Both univariate and multivariate analysis indicated that the morphological differences between P. yunanensis and P. philippensis were less than that between P. philippensis and P. hainana. The morphometric results were concordant in geographic patterns with mtDNA data from previous studies and indicated that P. petaurista, P. hainana, P. philippensis, and P. yunanensis could be recognized as valid species.
DEAR EDITOR,The ferret-badger Melogale cucphuongensis was first described from Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam, with no subsequent reports in later years. During our surveys of the Wuyishan Mountains of Fujian Province in southeastern China during May 2018, a Melogale specimen was identified. Analysis based on pelage and skull characteristics as well as molecular data indicated it to be a new subspecies, which we nominated as Melogale cucphuongensis guadunensis subsp. nov. This is the first record of the species in China. Therefore, this research not only expands the distribution range of the species beyond Vietnam, but also indicates that geographic variation of the species should have been proceeding in southeastern China.
There is some discrepancy in the classification of different species of Hylopetes, particularly regarding systematic status of H. electilis and H. phayrei and their relationship to other species. In the present study, for the first time we have brought together six of the nine Hylopetes species and performed statistical analysis of 14 measurable cranial variables, analyzing in total 89 specimens, including H. electilis, H. alboniger, H. phayrei, H. lepidus, H. spadiceus, and H. nigripes. Both univariate and multivariate analysis results indicate that H. electilis can not only be obviously distinguished from H. phayrei, but also clearly differs from the other four Hylopetes species. These results sustain the contention that H. electilis is neither a synonym nor subspecies ofH. phayrei, but should be considered a distinct and valid species. Subsequently, a straightforward discussion on the biogeography of Hylopetes in southeastem Asia gives further insight into the differentiation and variety of species belonging to this genus.
