Molecular phylogeny and morphometric divergence of native Korean wild mice (Mus musculus)

TL;DR

This study clarifies the taxonomic status of Korean house mice by combining genetic and morphological data, showing they belong to a single subspecies within Mus musculus.

Contribution

The study resolves taxonomic ambiguities by integrating genetic and morphometric analyses to confirm the subspecific status of Korean house mice.

Findings

Korean house mice belong to the Eurasian M. m. musculus lineage based on mitochondrial DNA analysis.

Morphological traits of Korean mice suggest intraspecific variation rather than distinct subspecies.

Craniometric features distinguish Korean mice from M. m. domesticus-derived laboratory strains.

Abstract

The taxonomic status of house mice (Mus musculus) on the Korean Peninsula has long been debated due to conflicting morphological classifications and limited genetic evidence. Historically, three subspecies (M. m. molossinus, M. m. utsuryonis, and M. m. yamashinai) have been proposed based on external traits, although the validity of these proposals remains uncertain. Thus, this study aimed to integrate genetic and morphological analyses to clarify the phylogenetic relationships of Korean mice relative to the well-known primary M. musculus subspecies and evaluate the taxonomic distinctiveness.

Genetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA (cytb gene) from mice across Korea, including islands, mountains, and agricultural fields, confirmed that these mice belong to the Eurasian M. m. musculus lineage. Morphologically, Korean mice exhibited tail ratios consistent with previously assigned subspecies, suggesting these traits represent intraspecific variation within M. m. musculus. Craniometric analyses revealed distinctive features, such as a shorter, narrower premaxillary tooth-patch width and a longer maxillary tooth-row length, thereby distinguishing these mice from laboratory strains derived from M. m. domesticus. These cranial configurations, visualized via three-dimensional micro-computed tomography scans, further supported the morphological divergence of these mice from other subspecies.

Our findings indicate that Korean house mice belong to a single subspecific group within M. m. musculus, with observed morphological variations reflecting local adaptation rather than distinct taxonomic divisions. The Korean Peninsula likely served as an ecological bridge, facilitating the spatiotemporal diversification of M. m. musculus across East Eurasia. This study resolves longstanding taxonomic ambiguities and underscores the subspecific status of Korean house mice within M. m. musculus. These insights provide a foundation for understanding the biogeographic history of human commensal species and future biomedical research utilizing wild-derived mouse models.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s42826-026-00269-7.

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