Shrew moles ( Uropsilus ), belonging to subfamily Uropsilinae of family Talpidae, were predominantly found in Myanmar, Vietnam, Bhutan, and Southwestern China. However, the extent distribution range of species within Uropsilus remains unclear. In 2022, we collected 18 specimens of Uropsilus from the western mountains of Henan Province in central China. Based on the mitochondrial (CYT B) and nuclear (RAG1 + RAG2) genes, the phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and species delimitation of Uropsilus were analyzed. The results showed that the genetic distance of CYT B between new species and other species of Uropsilus ranged from 8.44% to 18.23%; the new species was a distinct valid species and speciated in the early Pleistocene (2.16 Ma, 95% CI = 2.00–2.65) based on phylogenetic analyses. Morphologically, the new species was distinguishable from the other species of Uropsilus by its yellowish–brown dorsum and ash‐black venter, short tail, slender and curved zygomatic arch, upper inward‐curved I1, and lack of a gap between I1 and I2. The combined results of morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that the samples from Henan Province represented a new species— Uropsilus funiushanensis sp. nov. The specimens collected from the mountainous area of western Henan Province and Shennongjia in Hubei Province were identified as the same species. We suggested the evolutionary mechanism of the dental formula of U. funiushanensis and U. soricilus groups should be explored in the future.

The greater long-tailed hamster is primarily distributed in North Korea, Siberia (Russia), and central and northern China, while the Gansu hamster is restricted to southern Gansu Province, China. The genera Tscherskia and Cansumys have each been considered monotypic. The taxonomic status of these two genera has long been debated, and the specific status of T. ningshaanensis has also been contentious. Researchers have variously treated T. ningshaanensis as a subspecies of either T. triton or Can. canus. In this study, we estimated the phylogeny, divergence times, species delimitation, and biogeographical history of T. ningshaanensis by using one mitochondrial (CYT B) and three nuclear loci (GHR, IRBP, and RAG1) and compared the external and skull morphology variations between T. ningshaanensis and T. triton. The results showed that: 1) The genus Cansumys is a distinct genus in Cricetinae; 2) The notion that the genus Tscherskia is a monotypic genus is unsupported, T. ningshaanensis and T. triton were identified within this genus; and 3) The formation of T. ningshaanensis may have been driven by uplift of the Qinling Mountains. We conclude that T. ningshaanensis is a valid species within the subfamily Cricetinae.

Some groups of Diphyllobothriid tapeworms can cause foodborne or waterborne taeniasis, yet their systematics and evolution remain poorly understood. Based on mitochondrial genome data, this study reconstructed the phylogenetic trees of 11 cestode orders using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods, clarified the valid species of Spirometra, traced the evolutionary history of four key ecological traits, and estimated the divergence times of major groups. Phylogenetic analyses supported Diphyllobothriidea and Bothriocephalidea as distinct clades, with Diphyllobothriidea forming a sister group to Haplobothriidea. In addition, three novel types of mitochondrial gene arrangements were identified in tapeworms, and variations in these arrangement types appear to correspond to changes in proglottid morphology. Species validation has shown that the available Spirometra mitogenomes represent only four valid species. Phylogenetic analysis identified two genetic lineages within S. mansoni, and a comparison of their representative sequences showed that the differences mainly lie in 12 PCGs, 7 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 2 mNCRs. Ancestral character reconstruction suggested that tapeworms likely originated from freshwater fish hosts, with gradual adaptation to terrestrial hosts representing the main pathway of diversification, whereas transitions to marine environments were independent evolutionary events occurring in only a few groups. Molecular clock analyses indicated that tapeworm diversification began in the mid-to-late Oligocene, with episodic species radiations in different groups closely linked to host diversification and climatic changes. Notably, most groups within the family Diphyllobothriidae radiated during the Pleistocene, whereas Spirometra radiated during the Pliocene, coinciding with the origin of human-specialized cestodes. This study clarifies the phylogenetic position of diphyllobothriid tapeworms, infers the evolutionary patterns of ancestral traits across different tapeworm groups, and provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the origin and species diversity of tapeworms, as well as for assessing the transmission risk of pathogenic species.

Pleistocene climatic fluctuations and complex topography have profound impacts on the genetic structure and genetic diversity of montane species, yet their effects on Gansu mole ( Scapanulus oweni ) remain unclear. Herein, we investigate the phylogeny, divergence times, genetic structure, genetic diversity, demographic history, and ecological niche dynamics of S. oweni based on 30 specimens using two mitochondrial loci and 12 nuclear loci. The results show that S. oweni comprises two phylogroups, Clade E (central and eastern Mt. Qinling) and Clade W (Mts. Dabashan–Minshan and central Mt. Qinling), with their most recent common ancestor dating back to the early Pleistocene (1.40 Ma, 95% CI : 0.29–3.16 Ma). The central Mt. Qinling likely serves as a secondary contact zone between the two phylogroups. Ecological niche modeling further indicates that Mts. Qinling–Dabashan–Minshan served as refugia since the Last Interglacial, whereas demographic analyses suggest long-term demographic stability throughout subsequent climatic oscillations. The fragmented “sky island” habitats and complex topography of these regions have restricted dispersal and gene flow among populations, resulting in pronounced genetic structure and low genetic diversity. These findings demonstrate how complex topography and climatic fluctuations jointly shape the genetic structure and evolutionary history of S. oweni .