Mitochondrial DNA Sequences Imply Anhui Musk Deer a Valid Species in Genus Moschus

Anhui musk deer Moschus (moschiferus/berezovskii) anhuiensis has been a taxonomic mystery since its discovery in early 80s .In this paper,with museum samples,we sequenced the complete cytochrome b gene of five Anhui musk deer.When compared with other species in Genus Moschus,Anhui musk deer showed a rather level of sequence divergence from all the other species in t his genus.The phylogenetic trees constructed by multiple methods supported the same topology,in which the monophyly of Anhui musk deer was clearly demonstrated.Therefore,our molecular data suggest a full species status for Anhui musk deer (Moschus anhuiensis),rather than a subspecies of either M.moschiferus or M.berezovskii previously suggested by morphological studies.