Analysis of “historical” DNA of museum samples resolve taxonomic, nomenclature and biogeography issues: case study of true lemmings

Historical DNA of museum specimens is paramount importance in elucidation complex nomenclature issues and a priceless source material gathered during preceding centuries hardly accessible today sites. Here we report the results genotyping type Lemmus obensis bungei Vinogradov, 1925 from collection Zoological Institute RAS lemmings upper streams Omolon River, identified as L. amurensis Systematics Ecology Animals, Siberian branch RAS. The genetic profile first case was crucial for nomenclatural solution these are point major evolutionary divergence on Lena River. study convincingly showed that lectotype belong to eastern mitochondrial lineage sibiricus. Therefore, if ever further studies it would be conclusively shown this may become valid taxon any rank, then names “novosibiricus”, “ognevi”, “portenkoi” will younger synonyms “bungei”. new obtained sequences prove initially wrong assignment represent sibiricus lineage.