Discovery of Gongshan muntjac (Muntiacus gongshanensis) in Arunachal Pradesh: overlapping distribution with Muntiacus vaginalis and taxonomic insights

Rapid evolving chromosome numbers and the emergence of new species within the Muntiacus genus have led to taxonomic ambiguity. Gongshan muntjac ( M. gongshanensis ) was reported as endemic to China and its distribution in northern Myanmar and north-east India remained doubtful, due to lack of firm evidences. We collected a few samples from the trophy-hunted specimens in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, and two samples on genetic analysis identified to be of Gongshan muntjac, while two others identified as red muntjac ( M. vaginalis ). Interestingly, these specimens were sourced from the same household through hunting in eastern Arunachal Pradesh, bordering south-west China. The Bayesian-based phylogenetic analysis shows the clustering of these specimens with the respective species providing the first genetic evidence of occurrence of M. gongshanensis from Arunachal Pradesh and also suggesting its overlapping range with M. vaginalis in the eastern Arunachal Pradesh, India.