Lagurini is a
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide use of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. The definition is contested, in part due to conflict ...
of
lemmings
A lemming is a small rodent, usually found in or near the Arctic in tundra biomes. Lemmings form the subfamily Arvicolinae (also known as Microtinae) together with voles and muskrats, which form part of the superfamily Muroidea, which also incl ...
in the subfamily
Arvicolinae
The Arvicolinae are a subfamily of rodents that includes the voles, lemmings, and muskrats. They are most closely related to the other subfamilies in the Cricetidae (comprising the hamsters and New World rats and mice). Some authorities plac ...
. It contains three species in two genera. Species in this tribe are known as steppe lemmings.
It contains the following species:
* Genus ''
Eolagurus''
**
Yellow steppe lemming, ''E. luteus''
**
Przewalski's steppe lemming, ''E. przewalskii''
* Genus ''
Lagurus''
**
Steppe lemming, ''L. lagurus''
Phylogenetic evidence based on
mtDNA
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA and mDNA) is the DNA located in the mitochondria organelles in a eukaryotic cell that converts chemical energy from food into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Mitochondrial DNA is a small portion of the DNA contained in ...
supports the water voles of the genus ''
Arvicola'' not in fact belonging to the tribe
Arvicolini
Arvicolini is a tribe of voles in the subfamily Arvicolinae.
A 2021 study found that '' Arvicola'' is distinct from the other extant genera in the tribe, instead being sister to the tribe Lagurini. The current species listing of the American So ...
, but rather forming a
sister group
In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree.
Definition
The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram:
Taxon A and ...
to the Lagurini. Based on the study, the Lagurini and ''Arvicola'' together form a sister group to a clade comprising ''
Hyperacrius'' and the rest of the
Arvicolini
Arvicolini is a tribe of voles in the subfamily Arvicolinae.
A 2021 study found that '' Arvicola'' is distinct from the other extant genera in the tribe, instead being sister to the tribe Lagurini. The current species listing of the American So ...
.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q17781830
Mammal tribes
Voles and lemmings