Genetic diversity of the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is used as an animal model in various studies, but not much is known on the genetic diversity of this animal. Here, on the basis of dataset collected from the most part of the distribution range of the naked mole-rat, we reconstruct phylogenetic relationships between its different lineages using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. We also mapped the distribution of the main genetic lineages, dated the divergence using different Bayesian tree-calibration techniques, and modeled the distribution of ecological niches for the period of last glacial maximum. Our results show the existence of two deeply divergent clades designated as the eastern clade (East Ethiopia) and the southern clade (South Ethiopia and North Kenya). Additional phylogeographic structure was demonstrated for each of these two clades. Divergence between these two main lineages dated back to the Middle Pleistocene (ca. 1.4-0.8 Mya) and may have been related to climate changes in Africa during the Mid-Pleistocene Revolution. In light of substantial genetic differences between the eastern and southern lineages of the naked mole-rat, these two clades can be considered as two deeply divergent subspecies or even as distinct species.