Phylogeny of east Asian bufonids inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences (Anura : Amphibia)

We investigated the relationships of Asian bufonids using partial sequences of mitochondrial DNA genes. Twenty-six samples representing 14 species of Bufo from China and Vietnam and 2 species of Torrentophryne from China were examined. Three samples of Bufo viridis from Armenia and Georgia were also sequenced to make a comparison to its sibling tetraploid species B. danatensis. Bufo americanus, from Canada, was used as the outgroup. Sequences from the 12S ribosomal RNA, 16S ribosomal RNA, cytochrome b, and the control region were analyzed using parsimony. East Asian bufonids were grouped into two major clades. One clade included B. andrewsi, B. bankorensis, B. gargarizans, B. tibetanus, B. tuberculatus, its sister clade B. cryptotympanicus, and the 2 species of Torrentophryne. The second clade consisted of B. galeatus, B. himalayanus, B. melanostictus, and a new species from Vietnam. The placement of three taxa (B. raddei B. viridis, and its sister species, B. danatensis) was problematic. The genus Torrentophryne should be synonymized with Bufo to remove paraphyly. Because B. raddei does not belong to the clade that includes B. viridis and B. danatensis, it was removed from the viridis species group. The species status of B bankorensis from Taiwan is evaluated. (C) 2000 Academic Press.

Mandibular variation among Chinese macaques

In order to clarify the degree to which mandibular variation among Chinese macaques results from functional adaptation and phylogenetic inertia, 13 mandibular variables were analyzed by bivariate and multivariate techniques. The results indicate, not surprisingly, that the main differences in the mandible are associated with size. The study further implies that the variation between species is not closely associated with differences in functional adaptation even though the dietary and related differences are large compared to the situation in other macaques. The great variety in diet and related factors among Chinese macaques may not have yet resulted in a significant variation in the mandible. This may be because their radiation in Asia, though involving considerably greater differences in habitat, climate, and so on, has occurred more recently than for other macaque species in Southeast Asia. Mandibular variation between these species, therefore, is likely to be more closely tied to their immediate prior phylogenetic history. For example, the two stump-tailed macaques are closely similar and are also closely similar to the Assam species. Function in the mandible in these species is quite different. The results, therefore, seem to support the hypothesis that these three macaque species should be placed in a single species-group (sinica) as proposed by Delson [1980], Pan [1998], and Pan et al. [1998]. (C) 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

鰋鮡鱼类(Glyptosternoid fishes)的系统进化和动物地理学研究

鰋鮡鱼类共包括9 属43 种（亚种），隶属于鲇形目（Siluriformes）鮡科 （Sisoridae）鰋鮡亚科（Glyptosternae）中鰋鮡族（Tribe Glyptosternini）的鰋鮡 亚族（Subtribe Glyptosternina）。鰋鮡鱼类形态上的共同特征为：无胸吸着器，胸、 腹鳍水平展开，第一根鳍条完全分节或在外缘生出许多软骨细条，被外表皮所裹， 在腹面看到的是许多与分节或软骨细条大致对应的横纹皱褶。鰋鮡鱼类集中分布 于青藏高原周边的水系中，部分属种向西分布到了中亚地区的阿姆河上游，是适 应山区急流环境的一群鱼类。近年来一系列的研究表明，鰋鮡鱼类为一单系类群， 它的起源和演化与青藏高原的隆升有着直接的关系。鰋鮡鱼类的系统发育研究， 可以为青藏高原隆升的年代、幅度和形式提供间接的证据，其系统发育树的拓扑 结构也直接反映了东喜马拉雅地区诸水系的形成与演变。 本研究对鰋鮡鱼类9 属进行了系统整理。1. 发现并描述了异齿鰋属 （Oreoglanis）两新种，分别为分布于景东无量山（澜沧江水系）的景东异齿鰋 （O. jingdongensis）和分布于怒江水系南景河和南滚河的无斑异齿鰋（O. immaculatus）。认为分布于中国的异齿鰋属鱼类均属于尖须异齿鰋种组（O. siamensis species group）。指出区分异齿鰋属两个种组：尖须异齿鰋种组和细尾 异齿鰋种组（O. delacouri species group）的特征是下唇中部是否具有中央缺刻， 尾型的差别（新月型尾或凹型尾）不能用来区分两个种组，给出了异齿鰋属的检 索表，并绘制了异齿鰋属鱼类分布图。2. 对鮡属（Pareuchiloglanis）鱼类进行了 系统整理，通过外部形态度量性状的比较，认为分布于澜沧江水系的，曾经被鉴 定为扁头鮡（P. kamengensis）的标本，应属于大鳍鮡（P. macropterus），扁头鮡 和大鳍鮡之间的最明显的差别在于腹鳍前长的不同。前者的腹鳍前长为体长的 53.2-64.9%，后者的腹鳍前长均不达体长的50%。3. 通过比较金沙江水系分布的 5 种鮡属鱼类，中华鮡（P. sinensis）、前臀鮡（P. anteanalis）、壮体鮡（P. robusta）、 四川鮡（P. sichuanensis）和天全鮡（P. tianquanensis），认为天全鮡和四川鮡之 间分布水系重叠，外部形态亦无差别，天全鮡很可能为四川鮡的同物异名。给出 了鮡属鱼类的系统检索表，并绘制了鮡属鱼类分布图。利用分子系统学的原理和方法对鰋鮡鱼类进行系统发育研究。测定了6 属 15 种鰋鮡鱼类和鮡科中非鰋鮡鱼类4 属7 种共28 个体的线粒体Cyt b 基因部分 片段和全序列（1138 bp），结合从GenBank 下载的相关类群相同的基因序列，以 魾属（Bagarius）的巨魾（B. yarrelli），纹胸鮡属（Glyptothorax）的穴形纹胸鮡 （G. cavia）、亮背纹胸鮡（G. dorsalis）、扎那纹胸鮡（G. zainaensis），福建纹胸 鮡（G. fukiensis fukiensis）、海南纹胸鮡（G. fukiensis hainanensis），黑鮡属（Gagata） 的长丝黑鮡（G. dolichonema）以及褶鮡属（Pseudecheneis）的黄斑褶鮡（P. sulcatus） 和无斑褶鮡（P. immaculatus）作为外类群，采用贝叶斯法（Bayesian）、最简约 法（maximum pasimony, MP）和邻接法（neighbour-joining, NJ）构建系统发育树。 结果显示： 1. 鰋鮡鱼类为一单系类群，并且与褶鮡属互为姐妹群关系； 2. 原鮡属、鰋属和凿齿鮡属是鰋鮡鱼类的三个基部类群； 3. 异齿鰋属构成为一个单系群，大鳍异齿鰋最早从该属的基部分化出来； 4. 石爬鮡属构成一个单系，并与分布于金沙江水系的中华鮡＋前臀鮡构成姐妹 群，黄石爬鮡和青石爬鮡的单倍型相互交错；显示两个物种的分类是不合适的， 而是同一水系不同支流种群之间梯度变异的例子，依据本次研究所得出的三个分 支图，结合青石爬鮡自西至东分布于金沙江、雅砻江、大渡河、青衣江、岷江等 的分布格局以及形态特征的分布，显示形态特征的分布变化有以下趋势：自西至 东，腹鳍位置逐渐前移；颌须渐趋缩短；胸鳍趋向发达、伸达腹鳍起点。这些变 化趋势是同一水系不同支流种群之间梯度变异的极好例子； 5. 分布于澜沧江以西（包括澜沧江）水系的鮡属鱼类（扁头鮡、细尾鮡、短鳍 鮡）与分布于怒江和伊洛瓦底江水系的拟鰋属鱼类构成为一支，并且二者共同与 分布于元江上游（红河水系）的大孔鮡构成为单系。其中，短体拟鰋和拟鰋互为 姐妹种；而扁头鮡和短鳍鮡也互为姐妹种；细尾鮡的系统地位则尚不能确定； 6. 无论在MP 树、贝叶斯树还是NJ 树中，石爬鮡属、鮡属、拟鰋属和异齿鰋属 构成一个单系，并且支持率达到了100％。 7. 鰋属位于鰋鮡鱼类的基部，是较早就从鰋鮡鱼类祖先中演化出来的一个类群， 鰋类的口吸盘是一个趋同性状，是在急流环境条件下形成的一种适应性性状，在 鰋类各属中不是同源特征； 8. 鮡属鱼类不是一个单系类群，分布于金沙江流域的鮡属鱼类与同流域分布的石爬鮡属鱼类聚成一支；澜沧江及其以西水系分布的鮡属鱼类与同流域分布的拟 鰋属鱼类聚成一支，之后这两支又同异齿鰋属共同构成为一个大支。 结合鰋鮡鱼类的系统发育分支图对其动物地理学进行研究。鰋鮡鱼类是由类 似纹胸鮡属（Glyptothorax）鱼类的祖先演化而来，鰋属（Exostoma）和凿齿鮡 属（Glaridoglanis）是较早就从从类似原鮡的祖先中演化出来，鮡属、石爬鮡属、 拟鰋属和异齿鰋属这一大支由类似原鮡的祖先演化而来。在青藏高原强烈隆起等 重大地理隔离事件发生之前，类似于现生的原鮡属鱼类已经广布喜马拉雅山脉东 西两侧。在青藏高原强烈隆起等重大地理隔离事件发生后，鰋鮡鱼类在相同的地 理隔离下独自演化为现在的分布格局。

Molecular evidence for the sister relationship of the eastern Asia-North American intercontinental species pair in the Podophyllum group (Berberidaceae)

The presumed pair relationships of intercontinental vicariad species in the Podophyllum group (Sinopodophyllum hexandrum vs. Podophyllum pelatum and Diphylleia grayi vs. D. cymosa) were recently, considered to be paraphyletic. In the present paper, the trnL-F and ITS gene sequences of the representatives were used to examine the sister relationships of these two vicariad species. A heuristic parsimony analysis based on the trnLF data identified Diphylleia as the basal clade of the other three genera, but provided poor resolution of their inter-relationships. High sequence divergence was found in the ITS data. ITS1 region, more variable but parsimonyuninformative. has no phylogenetic value, Sequence divergence of the ITS2 region provided abundant, phylogenetically informative variable characters. Analysis of ITS2 sequences confirmeda sister relationship between the presumable vicariad species, in spite of a low bootstrap support for Sinopodophyllum hexandrum vs. Podophyllum pelatum. The combined ITS2 and trnL-F data enforced a sister relationship between Sinopodophyllum hexandrum and Podophyllum pelatum with an elevated bootstrap support of 100%. Based on molecular phylogeny, the morphological evolution of this group was discussed. The self-pollination might have evolved from cross-fertilization two times in this group. The different pollination and seed dispersal systems of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum and Podophlyllum pelatum resulted from their adaptations to different ecological habitats. The divergence time of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum-Podophyllum pelatum is estimated to be 6.52+/-1.89 myr based on the ITS divergence. The divergence of this species pair predated or co-occurred with the recent uplift of the Himalayas 4-3 myr during the late Miocene and the formation of the alpine habitats. Sinopodophyllum hexandrum developed a host of specialized characters in its subsequent adaptation to the arid alpine surroundings. The present study confirmed the different patterns of species relationship between Asian-North American disjuncts. The isolation of plant elements between North America and eastern Asia must have been a gradual process, resulting in the different phylogenetic patterns and divergence times of the disjuncts.

Evolution of genome organizations of squirrels (Sciuridae) revealed by cross-species chromosome painting

With complete sets of chromosome-specific painting probes derived from flow-sorted chromosomes of human and grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), the whole genome homologies between human and representatives of tree squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis, Callosciurus erythraeus), flying squirrels (Petaurista albiventer) and chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus) have been defined by cross-species chromosome painting. The results show that, unlike the highly rearranged karyotypes of mouse and rat, the karyotypes of squirrels are highly conserved. Two methods have been used to reconstruct the genome phylogeny of squirrels with the laboratory rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as the out-group: ( 1) phylogenetic analysis by parsimony using chromosomal characters identified by comparative cytogenetic approaches; ( 2) mapping the genome rearrangements onto recently published sequence-based molecular trees. Our chromosome painting results, in combination with molecular data, show that flying squirrels are phylogenetically close to New World tree squirrels. Chromosome painting and G-banding comparisons place chipmunks ( Tamias sibiricus), with a derived karyotype, outside the clade comprising tree and flying squirrels. The superorder Glires (order Rodentia + order Lagomorpha) is firmly supported by two conserved syntenic associations between human chromosomes 1 and 10p homologues, and between 9 and 11 homologues.

Molecular Phylogeny of Geographical Isolates of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: Implications on the Origin and Spread of this Species in China and Worldwide

The genetic diversity and phylogeny of 26 isolates of Bursaphelenchus xlophilus from China, Japan, Portugal and North America were investigated based on the D2/3 domain of 28S rDNA, nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. The genetic diversity analysis showed that the D2/3 domain of 28S rDNA of isolates of B. xlophilus from China, Portugal, Japan and the US were identical and differed at one to three nucleotides compared to those from Canada. ITS sequences of isolates from China and Portugal were the same; they differed at one or two nucleotides compared to those of Japanese isolates and at four and 23 nucleotides compared to those front the US and Canada, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Chinese isolates share a common ancestor with one of the two Japanese clades and that the Canadian isolates form a sister group of the clade comprised of isolates from China, Portugal,Japan, and the US. The relationship between Japanese isolates and those from China was closer than with the American isolates. The Canadian isolates were the basal group of B. xylophilus. This suggests that B. xlophilus originated in North America and that the B. xylphilus that occurs in China could have been first introduced from Japan. Further analysis based on RAPD analysis revealed that the relationship among isolates from Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Anhui provinces and Nanjing was the closest, which suggests that pine wilt disease in these Chinese locales was probably dispersed from Nanjing, where this disease first occurred in China.

Maximins S, a novel group of antimicrobial peptides from toad Bombina maxima

Amphibian skin secretions are rich in antimicrobial peptides acting as important components of innate defense system against invading microorganisms. A novel type of peptide, designated as maximin S, was deduced by random sequencing of 793 clones from a constructed Bombina maxima skin cDNA library. The putative primary structures of maximin S peptides can be grouped into five species, in which maximin S I has 14 amino acid residues and the rest of maximin S peptides (S2-S5) all have 18 amino acid residues. Unlike most of the amphibian antimicrobial peptides so far identified, the newly characterized four maximin S precursors are composed of maximin S I and different combinations of tandem repeated maximin S2-S5 linked by internal peptides. Except maximin S I, the predicted secondary structures of maximin S2-S5 show a similar amphipathic alpha-helical structure. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis of partially isolated skin secretions of the toad indicates that most of the deduced maximin S peptides are expressed. Two deduced maximin S peptides (S1, S4) were synthesized and their antimicrobial activities were tested. Maximin S4 only had an antibiotic activity against mycoplasma and had no antibacterial or antifungal activity toward tested strains. Maximin S1 had no activity under the same conditions. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular phylogenetic systematics of twelve species of acipenseriformes based on mtDNA ND4L-ND4 gene sequence analysis

Acipenseriformes is an endangered primitive fish group, which occupies a special place in the history of ideas concerning fish evolution, even in vertebrate evolution. However, the classification and evolution of the fishes have been debated. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) ND4L and partial ND4 genes were first sequenced in twelve species of the order Acipenseriformes, including endemic Chinese species. The following points were drawn from DNA sequences analysis: (i) the two species of Huso can be ascribed to Acipenser; (ii) A. dabryanus is the mostly closely related to A. sinensis, and most likely the landlocked form of A. sinensis; (iii) genus Acipenser in trans-Pacific region might have a common origin; (iv) mtDNA ND4L and ND4 genes are the ideal genetic markers for phylogenetic analysis of the order Acipenseriformes.

A phylogeny of Chinese species in the genus Phrynocephalus (Agamidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

We investigated the phylogenetic relationships among most Chinese species of lizards in the genus Phrynocephalus (118 individuals, collected from 56 populations of 14 well-defined species and several unidentified specimens) using four mitochondrial gene fragments (12S rRNA, 16S rRNA, cytochrome b, and ND4-tRNA(LEU)). The partition-homogeneity tests indicated that the combined dataset was homogeneous, and maximum-parsimony (MP), neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian (BI) analyses were performed on this combined dataset (49 haplotypes including outgroups for 2058 bp in total). The maximum-parsimony analysis resulted in 24 equally parsimonious trees, and their strict consensus tree shows that there are two major clades representing the Chinese Phrynocephalus species: the viviparous group (Clade A) and the oviparous group (Clade B). The trees derived from Bayesian, ML. and NJ analyses were topologically identical to the MP analysis except for the position of P. mystaceus. All analyses left the nodes for the oviparous group, the most basal clade within the oviparous group, and P. mystaceus unresolved. The phylogenies further suggest that the monophyly of the viviparous species may have resulted from vicariance, while recent dispersal may have been important in generating the pattern of variation among the oviparous species. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.

Characterization of the sleep architecture in two species of fruit bat

Bats (Chiroptera) are the second-most abundant mammalian order in the world, occupying a diverse range of habitats and exhibiting many different life history traits. In order to contribute to this highly underrepresented group we describe the sleep architecture of two species of frugivorous bat, the greater short-nosed fruit bat (Cynopterus sphinx) and the lesser dawn fruit bat (Eonycteris spelaea). Electroencephalogram (EEG) and electromyogram (EMG) data were recorded from multiple individuals (>= 5) by telemetry over a 72-h period in a laboratory setting with light/dark cycles equivalent to those found in the wild. Our results show that over a 24-h period both species spent more time asleep than awake (mean 15 h), less than previous reported for Chiroptera (20 h). C sphinx spent significantly more of its non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) quotas during the light phase, while E. spelaea divided its sleep-wake architecture equally between both light and dark phases. Comparing the sleep patterns of the two species found that C. sphinx had significantly fewer NREM and REM episodes than E. spelaea but each episode lasted for a significantly longer period of time. Potential hypotheses to explain the differences in the sleep architecture of C. sphinx with E. spelaea, including risk of predation and social interaction are discussed. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of wood mice (genus Apodemus Kaup, 1829) based on complete mtDNA cytochrome b sequences, with emphasis on Chinese species

Phylogenetic relationships among 15 species of wood mice (genus Apodemus) were reconstructed to explore some long-standing taxonomic problems. The results provided support for the monophyly of the genus Apodemus, but could not reject the hypothesis of paraphyly for this genus. Our data divided the 15 species into four major groups: (1) the Sylvaemus group (A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A. alpicola, and A. uralensis), (2) the Apodemus group (A. peninsulae, A. chevreri, A. agrarius, A. speciosus, A. draco, A. ilex, A. semotus, A. latronum, and A. mystacinus), (3) A. argenteus, and (4) A. gurkha. Our results also suggested that orestes should be a valid subspecies of A. draco rather than an independent species; in contrast, A. ilex from Yunnan may be regarded as a separate species rather than a synonym of orestes or draco. The species level status of A. latronum, tscherga as synonyms of A. uralensis, and A. chevrieri as a valid species and the closest sibling species of A. agrarius were further corroborated by our data. Applying a molecular clock with the divergences of Mus and Rattus set at 12 million years ago (Mya) as a calibration point, it was estimated that five old lineages (A. mystacinus and four major groups above) diverged in the late Miocene (7.82-12.74 Mya). Then the Apodemus group (excluding A. mystacinus) split into two subgroups: agrarius and draco, at about 7.17-9.95 Mya. Four species of the Sylvaemus group were estimated to diverge at about 2.92-5.21 Mya. The Hengduan Mountains Region was hypothesized to have played important roles in Apodemus evolutionary histories since the Pleistocene. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A NEW SPECIES FROM SOUTHWESTERN CHINA IN THE AFRO-PALEARCTIC LINEAGE OF THE HORSESHOE BATS (RHINOLOPHUS)

A new species of horseshoe bat (Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae) is described from southwestern China. The presence of a wedge-shaped sella and pointed connecting process of the nose leaf aligns the new species to the landeri group in the Afro-Palearctic lineag

Maintenance of Multifemale Social Organization in a Group of Nomascus concolor at Wuliang Mountain, Yunnan, China

Many short-term studies have reported groups of black crested gibbons containing >= 2 adult females (Nomascus concolor). We report the stability of multifemale groups in this species over a period of 6 yr. Our focal group and 2 neighboring groups included 2 breeding females between March 2003 and June 2009. We also habituated 1 multifemale group to observers and present detailed information concerning their social relationships over a 9-mo observation period. We investigated interindividual distances and agonistic behavior among the 5 group members. The spatial relationship between the 3 adult members (1 male, 2 females) formed an equilateral triangle. A subadult male was peripheral to the focal group, while a juvenile male maintained a closer spatial relationship with the adult members. We observed little agonistic behavior among the adult members. The close spatial relationship and lack of high rates of agonistic behavior among females suggest that the benefits of living in a multifemale group were equal to or greater than the costs for both females, given their ecological and social circumstances. The focal group occupied a large home range that was likely to provide sufficient food sources for the 2 females and their offspring. Between March 2003 and June 2009, 1 adult female gave 2 births and the other one gave 1 birth. All individuals in the focal group survived to June 2009. A long-term comparative study focused on females living in multifemale groups and females living in pair-living groups would provide insight into understanding the evolutionary mechanisms of the social system in gibbons.

Phylogeny and zoogeography of the cyprinid hemicultrine group (Cyprinidae : Cultrinae)

Ying-Gui Dai and Jun-Xing Yang (2003) Phylogeny and zoogeography of the cyprinid hemicultrine group (Cyprinidae: Cultrinae). Zoological Studies 42(1): 73-92. The hemicultrine group consists of middle-sized cyprinids in Asia which taxonomically belong to the subfamily Cultrinae in the Cyprinidae (Cypriniformes), but there has been no convincing generic phylogenetic hypothesis proposal so far. On the basis of a morphological study of 65 specimens soaked in formalin and 14 skeletal specimens of 8 species in 6 genera within the hemicultrine group as an ingroup, a 70-character matrix was obtained. The generic phylogenetic relationships of the hemicultrine group are hypothesized with the matrix by the method of cladistic analysis. When the species Rasborinus lineatus or Cultrichthys erythropterus is used as the sole outgroup, the matrix gives the same single most-parsimonious tree of generic phylogenetic relationships within the hemicultrine group which shows that the hemicultrine group forms a monophyletic group. However, when Rasborinus lineatus is used as the sole outgroup and Cultrichthys erythropterus and Paralaubuca barroni are included in the ingroup, the hemicultrine group is validated to represent a paraphyletic group, and the hemicultrine group and the genus Paralaubuca form a monophyletic group. The tree of generic relationships and zoogeography of the monophyletic group comprising the hemicultrine group and the genus Paralaubuca suggest the following: (1) The monophyletic group comprises 2 smaller monophyletic groups: the genera Hemiculterella + Pseudohemiculter + Hainania and the genera Hemiculter + Paralaubuca + Pseudolaubuca + Toxabramis. (2) The sister groups of the monophyletic group show both overlapping and vicariant distribution patterns; therefore the generic distribution pattern of the monophyletic group maybe have resulted from both dispersal and vicariance events. (3) The monophyletic group probably originated on the Asian mainland from the Yangtze River to the Pearl River and on Hainan Island in China. (4) The monophyletic group probably originated after the Japanese Archipelago was separated from the Asian mainland at the beginning of the Quaternary Period in the Cenozoic but before Taiwan, Hainan Island, and Indonesia were completely isolated from the Asian mainland after the ice age in the Quaternary Period. (5) Speciation of the genus Hemiculter should have been the earliest, and those of the genera Paralaubuca, Pseudolaubuca, and Hainania ought to be the latest in the process of evolution of this monophyletic group. http://www.sinica.edu.tw/zool/zoolstud/42.1/73.pdf.

A new species of bamboo bat (Chiroptera : Vespertilionidae : Tylonycteris) from southwestern China

Bamboo bats are a group of small bats with unique skull and morphology. They roost inside hollow bamboo stems in tropical and subtropical Asia and the Ambon Islands (Moluccas). We examined 53 specimens of Tylonycteris from southern and southwestern China. Comparisons of skull and external characteristics, pelage color, shapes of thumbpads and footpads, and statistical analysis of cranial measurements revealed that specimens from Damenglong, Jinghong County, Xishuang-banna, Yunnan, are distinctly different from the other two species of Tylonycteris described so far. The Yunnan specimens are the smallest in size; have dark blackish brown pelage color; and have larger upper premolars, smaller first lower premolars, and longer C-M-3. They are sympatric with the previously described species. Here we review the genus Tylonycteri and describe a new species, Tylonycteris pygmaeus, from the Yunnan material.