Abstract
Information about the taxonomy and geographical distribution of a species is essential to understand its evolution and for conservation efforts. The phylogeny of the Hylobatidae remains unclear. India is reported to have one species of Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) but a recent study based on pelage colour suggested that another species, H. leuconedys, occurs in the Mishmi Hills between the Dibang and Nao Dehing rivers in Arunachal Pradesh. We examined whether H. leuconedys occurs in India and its evolutionary relationships with other Hylobatidae species. We collected blood, tissue, and fecal samples from various populations of H. hoolock (N = 17) and the Mishmi Hills gibbons (N = 14) from their distribution in Northeast India, zoos, and rescues centers. We isolated DNA from these samples and constructed phylogenetic trees using partial D-loop and COI markers. We also performed whole mitochondrial analysis to study the phylogenetics of the Hylobatidae family. Our genetic analysis showed that none of the samples from India were H. leuconedys, and that all samples from the Mishmi Hills could be assigned to H. hoolock. Our mitogenome analysis supported this conclusion. We estimate that gibbon divergence from a common ancestor occurred 8.38 mya and that the split between H. hoolock and H. leuconedys occurred 1.49 mya. These findings will facilitate exchange of individuals from different zoos for captive breeding programs and conservation and management of wild populations of these gibbons.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Prof. Joanna Sctchell and two anonymous reviewers for their constructive commentary that helped improve the manuscript. We are thankful to the Department of Environments and Forests, Government of Assam; Department of Environments and Forests, Arunachal Pradesh; and Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Government of Mizoram for granting permission for sample collection. We also express our gratitude to Zoo Directors of Itanagar Zoo, Assam State Zoo and Aizawl Zoo for permission and support for sample collection. We are especially thankful to Dr. Sorang Tadap, Itanagar Zoological Park and Mr. A. Mendo of Roing and Mr. D. Chitia of Tinsukia for their help in collecting samples from Arunachal Pradesh and Tinsukia. We also express our gratitude to Dr. Bhaskar Choudhury, Dr. Samshul Ali, Dr. Daoharu Baro, and Dr. Madhurjya Bikash Borah of Centre for Wildlife Research and Conservation for helping with samples collection. We are thankful to funding agencies, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (GU), and University Grand Commission, New Delhi (MT) for supporting the research. We also thank Dr. M. S. Ram for reviewing an earlier version of the manuscript.
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GU conceived, designed, and funded the study. MT collected samples and performed experiments and data analysis. SM and SB were involved in data analysis. MT, SM, NVKA, JB, and GU drafted the manuscript.
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Trivedi, M., Manu, S., Balakrishnan, S. et al. Understanding the Phylogenetics of Indian Hoolock Gibbons: Hoolock hoolock and H. leuconedys. Int J Primatol 42, 463–477 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-021-00212-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-021-00212-8