[Genetic relationships of Nyctereutes procyonopides: as inferred from random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis]

Random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs) were used to investigate genetic relationships of eight raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonopides). Using 28 arbitrary primers (10 bp), about 130 RAPD markers were observed in each individual. The average, maximum, and minimum genetic distance among 8 raccoon dogs are 11.20%, 14.93%, and 2.94% respectively. Our molecular phylogenetic trees constructed by UPGMA and NJ methods suggest that those 8 Chinese raccoon dogs may be divided into 4 clusters: (1) Guangxi raccoon dog, (2) Anhui raccoon dog, (3) Shaanxi raccoon dog, (4) Yunnan and Vietnam raccoon dog. Guangxi raccoon dog is more closely related to Anhui raccoon dog than to Yunnan-Vietnam raccoon dog. If the Yunnan-Vietnam cluster is a valid subspecies, it is reasonable to give the Guangxi, Anhui and Shaanxi clusters the same classification status as that of the Yunnan-Vietnam Cluster.