Golunda ellioti Gray, 1837 is an herbivorous monotypic murine with discontinues distribution from Iran in the west up to India in the east. In this study 11 specimens from four localities in southern Iran (Kerman province), were examined based on morphology, karyology and molecular data. Molecular analyses confirmed the position of the genus Golunda within the tribe Arvicanthini, and chromosome complement shows variations among the specimens of the Iranian population (2N=52) and India (2n=50, 52, 54). Therefore, different cytotypes of the species being exist throughout Golunda distribution range. In addition, geographical disjunction of the western (Iran) population and the eastern one highlight the necessity of the intraspecific evaluation based on molecular marker to explore the level of possible inter-population genetic divergence.

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