The complete mitochondrial genome of Southern pig-tailed macaque, Macaca nemestrina, and comparative mitochondrial genomics of Macaca species.

In this study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Southern pig-tailed, Macaca nemestrina for the first time. The genome is found to be 16,560 bp in length and has a base composition of A (32.25%), G (12.31%), C (30.51%), and T (24.93%), indicating that the percentage of A + T (57.18%) was higher than G + C (42.82%). Similar to other monkeys, it contains a typically conserved structure including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and 1 control region (D-loop). Most of the genes were located on the H-strand except for the ND6 gene and 8 tRNA genes. To obtain a more complete understanding of the evolutionary history of Macaca genus, 11 mitochondrial genomes were used for phylogenetic analysis. This mitochondrial sequence reported here would be useful to uncover the monkey's evolution and add a new genetic resource for the genus Macaca.

Boundary zone between northern and southern pig-tailed macaques and their morphological differences.

Based on previous conflicting reports that the two forms of pig-tailed macaque (northern and southern) exist as separate species, subspecies, or forms, and that their boundary zone lies in Thailand, a survey of the distribution range and morphology of pig-tailed macaques in Thailand was conducted during 2003-2010. We first conducted a questionnaire survey. Questionnaires were sent to 7,410 subdistricts throughout Thailand. We then traveled to 72 of the 123 subdistricts reporting the presence of pig-tailed macaques. However, due to a lack of reports of the presence of free-ranging pig-tailed macaques living south of the Isthmus of Kra, a survey of pet pig-tailed macaques was also conducted during 16-24 September 2011. Furthermore, 35 wild northern pig-tailed macaques inhabiting northern Thailand (13°13'N, 101°03'E) were temporarily caught and their morphological characters were measured and then compared to those of the southern form captured from Sumatra, Indonesia. Although largely allopatric, the ranges of the northern and southern pig-tailed macaques in Thailand were found to have a partially sympatric boundary at the Surat Thani-Krabi depression (8-9°30'N). Morphologically, these two forms were very distinctive, with different morphological characters such as the crown patch, the white color of the triangle above the eyes, the red streak at the external rim of the eyes, pelage color, ischial callosity, tail length and carriage, facial height, and limb length in both sexes, and patterns of sex skin swelling and reddening in females. These differences in morphological characters between the northern and southern forms should help settle the problems of their taxonomy.