Insights into the Turkish and Iranian badgers (the genus Meles) based on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences

To investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic status of Eurasian badgers (genus Meles) from Turkey and Iran, we used sequence data from the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) and examined 11 samples from Turkey and one sample from Iran. Relying on Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood, Neighbor-Joining and Network methods, significant genetic differences corresponding to Meles meles from the European part and Meles canescens from the Asian part of Turkey and from Iran confirmed previous genetic and morphometric results and provide another example for the barrier effect of the Bosphorus and Dardanelle Straits for mammalian species. Additionally, this study suggested that the Asian samples of Turkish badgers have a relatively high genetic diversity.