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Rodrigues NT, Saranholi BH, Inforzato AR, Silveira L, Desbiez ALJ, Galetti PM. Reduced gene flow and bottleneck in the threatened giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus): implications for its conservation. Genet Mol Biol 2024; 47:e20230252. [PMID: 38446984 PMCID: PMC10917080 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2023-0252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The progressive fragmentation and loss of habitats represent the main threats for endangered species, causing genetic consequences that may have potential implications for a population's long-term persistence. Large mammals are the most affected species among vertebrates. The giant armadillo Priodontes maximus is a large South American mammal threatened species, showing nocturnal, solitary and fossorial behavior, occurring at low population densities, and its population dynamics are still poorly known. In this study, we carried out the first assessment of genetic variability and population genetic structure of the species, using a panel of 15 polymorphic microsatellites developed by high-throughput genome sequencing. The spatial Bayesian clustering, Fst and Dest results indicated the presence of two genetic clusters (K = 2) in the study area. These results suggest a reduction in gene flow between individuals inhabiting the Brazilian savanna (Cerrado) and the Pantanal wetlands, with the increased human-driven habitat modifications possibly contributing for this scenario. A bottleneck signal was detected in both populations, and a subpopulation structuring in the Cerrado may also be reflecting consequences of the extensive habitat modifications. Findings from this study provide important and useful information for the future maintenance of genetic diversity and long-term conservation of this flagship species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayra T. Rodrigues
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Bruno H. Saranholi
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
- Imperial College London, Department of Life Sciences, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Alexandre R. Inforzato
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Arnaud Leonard Jean Desbiez
- Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Murrayfield, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPE), Nazaré Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro M. Galetti
- Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Departamento de Genética e Evolução, São Carlos, SP, Brazil
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Moffitt TB, Atcherson S, Padberg J. Auditory brainstem responses in the nine-banded armadillo ( Dasypus novemcinctus). PeerJ 2023; 11:e16602. [PMID: 38107579 PMCID: PMC10725177 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The auditory brainstem response (ABR) to tone burst stimuli of thirteen frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 48 kHz was recorded in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), the only extant member of the placental mammal superorder Xenarthra in North America. The armadillo ABR consisted of five main peaks that were visible within the first 10 ms when stimuli were presented at high intensities. The latency of peak I of the armadillo ABR increased as stimulus intensity decreased by an average of 20 μs/dB. Estimated frequency-specific thresholds identified by the ABR were used to construct an estimate of the armadillo audiogram describing the mean thresholds of the eight animals tested. The majority of animals tested (six out of eight) exhibited clear responses to stimuli from 0.5 to 38 kHz, and two animals exhibited responses to stimuli of 48 kHz. Across all cases, the lowest thresholds were observed for frequencies from 8 to 12 kHz. Overall, we observed that the armadillo estimated audiogram bears a similar pattern as those observed using ABR in members of other mammalian clades, including marsupials and later-derived placental mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel Atcherson
- Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
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Bowman J, Enard D, Lynch VJ. Phylogenomics reveals an almost perfect polytomy among the almost ungulates ( Paenungulata). BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.07.570590. [PMID: 38106080 PMCID: PMC10723481 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.07.570590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Phylogenetic studies have resolved most relationships among Eutherian Orders. However, the branching order of elephants (Proboscidea), hyraxes (Hyracoidea), and sea cows (Sirenia) (i.e., the Paenungulata) has remained uncertain since at least 1758, when Linnaeus grouped elephants and manatees into a single Order (Bruta) to the exclusion of hyraxes. Subsequent morphological, molecular, and large-scale phylogenomic datasets have reached conflicting conclusions on the branching order within Paenungulates. We use a phylogenomic dataset of alignments from 13,388 protein-coding genes across 261 Eutherian mammals to infer phylogenetic relationships within Paenungulates. We find that gene trees almost equally support the three alternative resolutions of Paenungulate relationships and that despite strong support for a Proboscidea+Hyracoidea split in the multispecies coalescent (MSC) tree, there is significant evidence for gene tree uncertainty, incomplete lineage sorting, and introgression among Proboscidea, Hyracoidea, and Sirenia. Indeed, only 8-10% of genes have statistically significant phylogenetic signal to reject the hypothesis of a Paenungulate polytomy. These data indicate little support for any resolution for the branching order Proboscidea, Hyracoidea, and Sirenia within Paenungulata and suggest that Paenungulata may be as close to a real, or at least unresolvable, polytomy as possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Bowman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 551 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - David Enard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Vincent J. Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY, 551 Cooke Hall, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Teullet S, Tilak MK, Magdeleine A, Schaub R, Weyer NM, Panaino W, Fuller A, Loughry WJ, Avenant NL, de Thoisy B, Borrel G, Delsuc F. Metagenomics uncovers dietary adaptations for chitin digestion in the gut microbiota of convergent myrmecophagous mammals. mSystems 2023; 8:e0038823. [PMID: 37650612 PMCID: PMC10654083 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00388-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Myrmecophagous mammals are specialized in the consumption of ants and/or termites. They do not share a direct common ancestor and evolved convergently in five distinct placental orders raising questions about the underlying adaptive mechanisms involved and the relative contribution of natural selection and phylogenetic constraints. Understanding how these species digest their prey can help answer these questions. More specifically, the role of their gut microbial symbionts in the digestion of the insect chitinous exoskeleton has not been investigated in all myrmecophagous orders. We generated 29 new gut metagenomes from nine myrmecophagous species to reconstruct more than 300 bacterial genomes in which we identified chitin-degrading enzymes. Studying the distribution of these chitinolytic bacteria among hosts revealed both shared and specific bacteria between ant-eating species. Overall, our results highlight the potential role of gut symbionts in the convergent dietary adaptation of myrmecophagous mammals and the evolutionary mechanisms shaping their gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Teullet
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie-Ka Tilak
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Amandine Magdeleine
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Roxane Schaub
- CIC AG/Inserm 1424, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne Andrée Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
- Tropical Biome and immunopathology, Université de Guyane, Labex CEBA, DFR Santé, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Nora M. Weyer
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Wendy Panaino
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animals, Plant, and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Andrea Fuller
- Brain Function Research Group, School of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - W. J. Loughry
- Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nico L. Avenant
- National Museum and Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Benoit de Thoisy
- Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
- Kwata NGO, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Guillaume Borrel
- Evolutionary Biology of the Microbial Cell, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Univ Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Mora JM, Ruedas LA. Updated list of the mammals of Costa Rica, with notes on recent taxonomic changes. Zootaxa 2023; 5357:451-501. [PMID: 38220635 DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5357.4.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Although Costa Rica occupies a mere 0.03% of the Earths land area, it nevertheless has recorded within its borders approximately 5% of the global diversity of mammals, thus making it one of the worlds megadiverse countries. Over the past ten years, 22 species have been added to the countrys inventory, bringing the total number known as here documented to 271; Chiroptera account for ten of these, having grown to 124 from 114; rodents have increased by eight species, from 47 to 55, with the caveat that we include three invasive species of Muridae that have gone feral. In contrast, the number of orders has decreased by one, by Artiodactyla incorporating the former Cetacea. Notes are provided for all taxonomic novelties since the last update. Since the first taxonomic compendium of the mammals of Costa Rica in 1869, the number of known species has grown by approximately 1.22 species year-1 (R2 = 0.96). Since 1983 however, this growth rate has been 1.64 species year-1 (R2 = 0.98). Despite this strong growth, an asymptote in the number of known species has not been reached. Conservation remains a primary need: over 60% of the countrys mammal species show population trends that are decreasing (13%), unknown (37%), or not assessed (11%), based on IUCN criteria. These analyses suggest that much remains to be known regarding the number of mammal species living in Costa Rica, but also that much more remains to be done to safeguard Costa Ricas exceptional biodiversity heritage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jos Manuel Mora
- Department of Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Biology; Portland State University; Portland; Oregon 97207-0751; USA; Carrera de Gestin Ecoturstica; Sede Central; Universidad Tcnica Nacional; Alajuela; Costa Rica.
| | - Luis A Ruedas
- Department of Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Biology; Portland State University; Portland; Oregon 97207-0751; USA.
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Heighton SP, Allio R, Murienne J, Salmona J, Meng H, Scornavacca C, Bastos ADS, Njiokou F, Pietersen DW, Tilak MK, Luo SJ, Delsuc F, Gaubert P. Pangolin Genomes Offer Key Insights and Resources for the World's Most Trafficked Wild Mammals. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad190. [PMID: 37794645 PMCID: PMC10551234 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pangolins form a group of scaly mammals that are trafficked at record numbers for their meat and purported medicinal properties. Despite their conservation concern, knowledge of their evolution is limited by a paucity of genomic data. We aim to produce exhaustive genomic resources that include 3,238 orthologous genes and whole-genome polymorphisms to assess the evolution of all eight extant pangolin species. Robust orthologous gene-based phylogenies recovered the monophyly of the three genera and highlighted the existence of an undescribed species closely related to Southeast Asian pangolins. Signatures of middle Miocene admixture between an extinct, possibly European, lineage and the ancestor of Southeast Asian pangolins, provide new insights into the early evolutionary history of the group. Demographic trajectories and genome-wide heterozygosity estimates revealed contrasts between continental versus island populations and species lineages, suggesting that conservation planning should consider intraspecific patterns. With the expected loss of genomic diversity from recent, extensive trafficking not yet realized in pangolins, we recommend that populations be genetically surveyed to anticipate any deleterious impact of the illegal trade. Finally, we produce a complete set of genomic resources that will be integral for future conservation management and forensic endeavors for pangolins, including tracing their illegal trade. These comprise the completion of whole-genomes for pangolins through the hybrid assembly of the first reference genome for the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and new draft genomes (∼43x-77x) for four additional species, as well as a database of orthologous genes with over 3.4 million polymorphic sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Heighton
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Rémi Allio
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Jérôme Murienne
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Jordi Salmona
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Hao Meng
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Céline Scornavacca
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Armanda D S Bastos
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Flobert Njiokou
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Ecologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Darren W Pietersen
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Marie-Ka Tilak
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique (EDB)— IRD-UPS-CNRS, Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
- CIIMAR/CIMAR, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade 16 do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto, Portugal
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Ruiz-García M, Pinilla-Beltrán D, Murillo-García OE, Pinto CM, Brito J, Shostell JM. Comparative mitogenome phylogeography of two anteater genera ( Tamandua and Myrmecophaga; Myrmecophagidae, Xenarthra): Evidence of discrepant evolutionary traits. Zool Res 2021; 42:525-547. [PMID: 34313411 PMCID: PMC8455474 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2020.365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The species within Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters, and armadillos) are quintessential South American mammals. Of the three groups, Vermilingua (anteaters) contains the fewest extant and paleontological species. Here, we sampled and sequenced the entire mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of two Tamandua species (Tamandua tetradactyla and Tamandua mexicana) (n=74) from Central and South America, as well as Myrmecophaga tridactyla (n=41) from South America. Within Tamandua, we detected three different haplogroups. The oldest (THI) contained many specimens with the T. tetradactyla morphotype (but also several with the T. mexicana morphotype) and originated in southeastern South America (currently Uruguay) before moving towards northern South America, where the THII haplogroup originated. THII primarily contained specimens with the T. mexicana morphotype (but also several with the T. tetradactyla morphotype) and was distributed in Central America, Colombia, and Ecuador. THI and THII yielded a genetic distance of 4%. THII originated in either northern South America or "in situ" in Central America with haplogroup THIII, which consisted of ~50% T. mexicana and 50% T. tetradactyla phenotypes. THIII was mostly located in the same areas as THII, i.e., Central America, Ecuador, and Colombia, though mainly in the latter. The three haplogroups overlapped in Colombia and Ecuador. Thus, T. tetradactyla and T. mexicana were not reciprocally monophyletic. For this reason, we considered that a unique species of Tamandua likely exists, i.e., T. tetradactyla. In contrast to Tamandua, M. tridactyla did not show different morphotypes throughout its geographical range in the Neotropics. However, two very divergent genetic haplogroups (MHI and MHII), with a genetic distance of ~10%, were detected. The basal haplogroup, MHI, originated in northwestern South America, whereas the more geographically derived haplogroup, MHII, overlapped with MHI, but also expanded into central and southern South America. Thus, Tamandua migrated from south to north whereas Myrmecophaga migrated from north to south. Our results also showed that temporal mitochondrial diversification for Tamandua began during the Late Pliocene and Upper Pleistocene, but for Myrmecophaga began during the Late Miocene. Furthermore, both taxa showed elevated levels of mitochondrial genetic diversity. Tamandua showed more evidence of female population expansion than Myrmecophaga. Tamandua experienced population expansion ~0.6-0.17 million years ago (Mya), whereas Myrmecophaga showed possible population expansion ~0.3-0.2 Mya. However, both taxa experienced a conspicuous female decline in the last 10 000-20 000 years. Our results also showed little spatial genetic structure for both taxa. However, several analyses revealed higher spatial structure in Tamandua than in Myrmecophaga. Therefore, Tamandua and Myrmecophaga were not subjected to the same biogeographical, geological, or climatological events in shaping their genetic structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Ruiz-García
- Laboratorio de Genética de Poblaciones Molecular-Biología Evolutiva, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá DC 110231, Colombia. E-mail:
| | - Daniel Pinilla-Beltrán
- Laboratorio de Genética de Poblaciones Molecular-Biología Evolutiva, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá DC 110231, Colombia
| | - Oscar E Murillo-García
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad del Valle, Apartado Aéreo, Cali 25360, Colombia
| | | | - Jorge Brito
- Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INABIO), Quito 170135, Ecuador
| | - Joseph Mark Shostell
- Math, Science and Technology Department, University of Minnesota Crookston, Crookston, MN 56716, USA
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Fromme L, Yogui DR, Alves MH, Desbiez AL, Langeheine M, Quagliatto A, Siebert U, Brehm R. Morphology of the genital organs of male and female giant anteaters ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla). PeerJ 2021; 9:e11945. [PMID: 34447632 PMCID: PMC8364315 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The giant anteater belongs to the supraorder Xenarthra which occupies a systematically isolated position among placental mammals. The species is categorized as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and understanding its reproductive characteristics is critical for future conservation efforts. METHODS Gross and microscopic anatomy of the genital organs of 23 male and 21 female adult and young roadkill giant anteaters in Brazil were studied. RESULTS Male giant anteaters presented a short conical penis, intraabdominal testes, and prostate, vesicular and bulbourethral glands. A tubular remnant of the partially fused Müllerian ducts extended from the seminal colliculus through the prostate gland, continued cranially in the genital fold, bifurcated, and attached with one elongation each to the left and right epididymal corpus. The structure presented a total length of up to 10 cm and contained a yellowish liquid in its lumen. Histologically, the caudal section of this structure resembled the female vagina, the middle portion corresponded to the uterus, and the extensions showed characteristics of uterine tubes. In adult female giant anteaters, ovoid ovaries with occasional seminiferous cord-like structures were observed. The animals possessed a simple uterus, which was directly continuous with the vaginal canal. The caudal portion of the vagina had two lumina, separated by a longitudinal septum and opening into two apertures into the vaginal vestibule, cranial to the urethral opening. In the urethral and the lateral vestibular wall, glandular structures with characteristics of male prostate and bulbourethral glands, respectively, were found. The vestibule opened through a vertical vulvar cleft to the exterior. A pair of well-differentiated Wolffian ducts with a central lumen originated ventrally at the vaginal opening into the vestibule and passed in a cranial direction through the ventral vaginal and uterine wall. Each duct extended highly coiled along the ipsilateral uterine tube until the lateral pole of the ovaries where it merged with the rete ovarii. DISCUSSION The reproductive morphology of giant anteaters reveals characteristics shared with other Xenarthrans: intraabdominal testes, a simple uterus, and a double caudal vagina. The persistence of well-differentiated genital ducts of the opposite sex in both males and females, however, singles them out among other species. These structures are the results of an aberration during fetal sexual differentiation and possess secretory functions. The possibility of a pathological degeneration of these organs should be considered in reproductive medicine of the species. CONCLUSION Knowledge of the unique reproductive characteristics of the giant anteater is essential for future reproductive management of the species. Additionally, further research on the peculiarities of the persisting genital duct structures might help to understand sexual differentiation in placental mammals in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilja Fromme
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Débora R. Yogui
- Project Anteaters and Highways, Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Brazil
- Nashville Zoo, Nashville, TN, United States of America
| | - Mario Henrique Alves
- Project Anteaters and Highways, Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Brazil
- Fundación Zoológica de Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
| | - Arnaud L.J. Desbiez
- Project Anteaters and Highways, Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Brazil
- Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marion Langeheine
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - André Quagliatto
- Laboratório de Ensino e Pesquisa em Animais Silvestres (LAPAS), Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ralph Brehm
- Institute for Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany
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Ezquiaga MC, Gallo JA, D'Agostino RL, Udrizar Sauthier DE, Abba AM, Sanchez J. Fleas and ticks in armadillos from Argentinean Patagonia: Diversity, abundance and distribution. Acta Trop 2021; 219:105911. [PMID: 33831343 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
In Argentina, quantitative information on the composition and structure of assemblages of arthropod parasites in Xenarthra is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the community of arthropod parasites of Chaetophractus villosus and Zaedyus pichiy in the Argentinean Patagonia. A total of 1300 ectoparasites (1224 fleas and 76 ticks) were collected from both host species. Seven different species were found, namely Phthiropsylla agenoris, Malacopsylla grossiventris, Hectopsylla broscus, Tunga penetrans, Tunga perforans (Siphonaptera), Amblyomma pseudoconcolor and Amblyomma auricularium s.l. (Ixodida). Four species were present in both host armadillos (P. agenoris, M. grossiventris, H. broscus and A. pseudoconcolor). Phthiropsylla agenoris was the most prevalent and abundant ectoparasite showing significant differences in prevalences, mean intensities and mean abundance. Malacopsylla grossiventris only showed significant differences in mean intensity. The structure and composition of the ectoparasite assemblage and the high values of ectoparasites aggregation recorded in the Patagonian armadillos strongly suggest that these associations are stable throughout their geographical distribution.
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Marshall SK, Spainhower KB, Sinn BT, Diggins TP, Butcher MT. Hind Limb Bone Proportions Reveal Unexpected Morphofunctional Diversification in Xenarthrans. J MAMM EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-021-09537-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Ciancio MR, Vieytes EC, Castro MC, Carlini AA. Dental enamel structure in long-nosed armadillos (Xenarthra: Dasypus) and its evolutionary implications. Zool J Linn Soc 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Most xenarthrans have a reduced and simplified dentition that lacks enamel. However, the presence of prismatic enamel has been recorded in the Eocene armadillos Utaetus buccatus (Euphractinae) and Astegotherium dichotomus (Astegotheriini). Among extant xenarthrans, the occurrence of enamel has been recognized only in the long-nosed armadillo, Dasypus novemcinctus (Dasypodinae), but its microstructure has never been described. In this contribution, we analyse the enamel microstructure in deciduous and permanent teeth of four Dasypus species. In deciduous molariform teeth of some species, we identify an apical cap of vestigial enamel (without crystalline structure), interpreted as an amorphous ameloblastic secretion. In permanent teeth, a thin layer of true enamel is found in the apical portion of unworn molariforms. The enamel is prismatic in D. novemcinctus, but in Dasypus hybridus, Dasypus sabanicola and Dasypus punctatus it is prismless. Taking into account the Eocene species of armadillos, the ancestral condition of enamel in cingulates could have been more complex (as in other placentals) and undergone progressive reduction, as shown in the Dasypus lineage. In light of previous genetic and developmental studies, we review and briefly discuss the processes that can account for the reduction/loss of enamel in extant and extinct armadillos. The retention of enamel and the fact that this genus is the only living xenarthran with two functional generations of teeth support the early divergence of the Dasypus lineage among living cingulates. This is in agreement with morphological and molecular analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín R Ciancio
- Laboratorio de Morfología Evolutiva y Desarrollo (MORPHOS) y División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina
- Cátedra Anatomía Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Emma C Vieytes
- Cátedra Anatomía Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina
- División Zoología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Mariela C Castro
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, IBiotec, Universidade Federal de Catalão, Avenida Dr. Lamartine Pinto de Avelar, 1120, 75704-020, Catalão, Brazil
| | - Alfredo A Carlini
- Laboratorio de Morfología Evolutiva y Desarrollo (MORPHOS) y División Paleontología Vertebrados, Museo de La Plata, CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina
- Cátedra Anatomía Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque s/n, B1900FWA, La Plata, Argentina
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Osthoff G, Madende M, Hugo A, Butler HJB. Milk evolution with emphasis on the Atlantogenata. AFRICAN ZOOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/15627020.2020.1798281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gernot Osthoff
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Moses Madende
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Arnold Hugo
- Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Hendrik JB Butler
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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13
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Casali DDM, Dos Santos Júnior JE, Miranda FR, Santos FR, Perini FA. Total-evidence phylogeny and divergence times of Vermilingua (Mammalia: Pilosa). SYST BIODIVERS 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2020.1729894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel de melo Casali
- Laboratório de Evolução de Mamíferos, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - José EustáQuio Dos Santos Júnior
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Flávia Regina Miranda
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Ciência Animal, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, R. Coronel Pessoa, 183, Ilhéus, Bahia, 45654-971, Cx. Postal 707, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Rodrigues Santos
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Genética, Ecologia e Evolução, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Genética, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Fernando Araújo Perini
- Laboratório de Evolução de Mamíferos, Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
- Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
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14
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Proximal Humerus Morphology Indicates Divergent Patterns of Locomotion in Extinct Giant Kangaroos. J MAMM EVOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10914-019-09494-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
AbstractSthenurine kangaroos, extinct “giant kangaroos” known predominantly from the Plio-Pleistocene, have been proposed to have used bipedal striding as a mode of locomotion, based on the morphology of their hind limbs. However, sthenurine forelimb morphology has not been considered in this context, and has important bearing as to whether these kangaroos employed quadrupedal or pentapedal locomotion as a slow gait, as in extant kangaroos. Study of the correlation of morphology of the proximal humerus in a broad range of therian mammals shows that humeral morphology is indicative of the degree of weight-bearing on the forelimbs during locomotion, with terrestrial species being distinctly different from arboreal ones. Extant kangaroos have a proximal humeral morphology similar to extant scansorial (semi-arboreal) mammals, but sthenurine humeri resemble those of suspensory arboreal taxa, which rarely bear weight on their forelimbs, supporting the hypothesis that they used bipedal striding rather than quadrupedal locomotion at slow gaits. The humeral morphology of the enigmatic extinct “giant wallaby,” Protemnodon, may be indicative of a greater extent of quadrupedal locomotion than in extant kangaroos.
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15
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Heck CT, Varricchio DJ, Gaudin TJ, Woodward HN, Horner JR. Ontogenetic changes in the long bone microstructure in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). PLoS One 2019; 14:e0215655. [PMID: 31022247 PMCID: PMC6483220 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Analysis of ontogenetic changes in long bone microstructure aid in vertebrate life history reconstructions. Specifically, osteohistological examination of common fauna can be used to infer growth strategies of biologically uncommon, threatened, or extinct vertebrates. Although nine-banded armadillo biology has been studied extensively, work on growth history is limited. Here we describe long bone microstructure in tibiae and femora of a limited ontogenetic series of nine- banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) to elucidate patterns of bone growth. The cortex of the smallest individual is composed of compacted coarse cancellous bone (CCCB) and woven tissue. Extensive cortical drift is driven by periosteal erosion and further compaction of trabeculae resulting in an increase in the amount of CCCB. The cortex of the largest specimens is primarily CCCB with thickened endosteal bone and thin outer cortices of lamellar and parallel-fibered tissue. The outer cortices of the largest individuals are interpreted as an external fundamental system (EFS) indicating a cessation of appositional bone growth corresponding to skeletal maturity (i.e. asymptotic or adult size). The EFS forms in femora prior to tibiae, indicating femoral growth rates begin decreasing earlier than tibial in D. novemcinctus. Growth trends in common fauna like the nine-banded armadillo can be used as a foundation for understanding life histories of related, but uncommon or extinct, species of cingulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Thomas Heck
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - David J Varricchio
- Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, United States of America
| | - Timothy J Gaudin
- Department of Biology, Geology, and Environmental Science, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Holly N Woodward
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States of America
| | - John R Horner
- Chapman University, Orange, California, United States of America
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Delsuc F, Kuch M, Gibb GC, Hughes J, Szpak P, Southon J, Enk J, Duggan AT, Poinar HN. Resolving the phylogenetic position of Darwin's extinct ground sloth ( Mylodon darwinii) using mitogenomic and nuclear exon data. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2018.0214. [PMID: 29769358 PMCID: PMC5966596 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mylodon darwinii is the extinct giant ground sloth named after Charles Darwin, who first collected its remains in South America. We have successfully obtained a high-quality mitochondrial genome at 99-fold coverage using an Illumina shotgun sequencing of a 12 880-year-old bone fragment from Mylodon Cave in Chile. Low level of DNA damage showed that this sample was exceptionally well preserved for an ancient subfossil, probably the result of the dry and cold conditions prevailing within the cave. Accordingly, taxonomic assessment of our shotgun metagenomic data showed a very high percentage of endogenous DNA with 22% of the assembled metagenomic contigs assigned to Xenarthra. Additionally, we enriched over 15 kb of sequence data from seven nuclear exons, using target sequence capture designed against a wide xenarthran dataset. Phylogenetic and dating analyses of the mitogenomic dataset including all extant species of xenarthrans and the assembled nuclear supermatrix unambiguously place Mylodon darwinii as the sister-group of modern two-fingered sloths, from which it diverged around 22 million years ago. These congruent results from both the mitochondrial and nuclear data support the diphyly of the two modern sloth lineages, implying the convergent evolution of their unique suspensory behaviour as an adaption to arboreality. Our results offer promising perspectives for whole-genome sequencing of this emblematic extinct taxon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Delsuc
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France
| | - Melanie Kuch
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Gillian C Gibb
- ISEM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Montpellier, France.,Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan Hughes
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Paul Szpak
- Department of Anthropology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - John Southon
- Keck Carbon Cycle Accelerator Mass Spectrometer, Earth Systems Science Department, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jacob Enk
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,MYcroarray, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ana T Duggan
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Hendrik N Poinar
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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17
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Digging for the spiny rat and hutia phylogeny using a gene capture approach, with the description of a new mammal subfamily. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2019; 136:241-253. [PMID: 30885830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2019.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Next generation sequencing (NGS) and genomic database mining allow biologists to gather and select large molecular datasets well suited to address phylogenomics and molecular evolution questions. Here we applied this approach to a mammal family, the Echimyidae, for which generic relationships have been difficult to recover and often referred to as a star phylogeny. These South-American spiny rats represent a family of caviomorph rodents exhibiting a striking diversity of species and life history traits. Using a NGS exon capture protocol, we isolated and sequenced ca. 500 nuclear DNA exons for 35 species belonging to all major echimyid and capromyid clades. Exons were carefully selected to encompass as much diversity as possible in terms of rate of evolution, heterogeneity in the distribution of site-variation and nucleotide composition. Supermatrix inferences and coalescence-based approaches were subsequently applied to infer this family's phylogeny. The inferred topologies were the same for both approaches, and support was maximal for each node, entirely resolving the ambiguous relationships of previous analyses. Fast-evolving nuclear exons tended to yield more reliable phylogenies, as slower-evolving sequences were not informative enough to disentangle the short branches of the Echimyidae radiation. Based on this resolved phylogeny and on molecular and morphological evidence, we confirm the rank of the Caribbean hutias - formerly placed in the Capromyidae family - as Capromyinae, a clade nested within Echimyidae. We also name and define Carterodontinae, a new subfamily of Echimyidae, comprising the extant monotypic genus Carterodon from Brazil, which is the closest living relative of West Indies Capromyinae.
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18
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Springer MS, Emerling CA, Gatesy J, Randall J, Collin MA, Hecker N, Hiller M, Delsuc F. Odontogenic ameloblast-associated (ODAM) is inactivated in toothless/enamelless placental mammals and toothed whales. BMC Evol Biol 2019; 19:31. [PMID: 30674270 PMCID: PMC6343362 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-019-1359-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The gene for odontogenic ameloblast-associated (ODAM) is a member of the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein gene family. ODAM is primarily expressed in dental tissues including the enamel organ and the junctional epithelium, and may also have pleiotropic functions that are unrelated to teeth. Here, we leverage the power of natural selection to test competing hypotheses that ODAM is tooth-specific versus pleiotropic. Specifically, we compiled and screened complete protein-coding sequences, plus sequences for flanking intronic regions, for ODAM in 165 placental mammals to determine if this gene contains inactivating mutations in lineages that either lack teeth (baleen whales, pangolins, anteaters) or lack enamel on their teeth (aardvarks, sloths, armadillos), as would be expected if the only essential functions of ODAM are related to tooth development and the adhesion of the gingival junctional epithelium to the enamel tooth surface. Results We discovered inactivating mutations in all species of placental mammals that either lack teeth or lack enamel on their teeth. A surprising result is that ODAM is also inactivated in a few additional lineages including all toothed whales that were examined. We hypothesize that ODAM inactivation is related to the simplified outer enamel surface of toothed whales. An alternate hypothesis is that ODAM inactivation in toothed whales may be related to altered antimicrobial functions of the junctional epithelium in aquatic habitats. Selection analyses on ODAM sequences revealed that the composite dN/dS value for pseudogenic branches is close to 1.0 as expected for a neutrally evolving pseudogene. DN/dS values on transitional branches were used to estimate ODAM inactivation times. In the case of pangolins, ODAM was inactivated ~ 65 million years ago, which is older than the oldest pangolin fossil (Eomanis, 47 Ma) and suggests an even more ancient loss or simplification of teeth in this lineage. Conclusion Our results validate the hypothesis that the only essential functions of ODAM that are maintained by natural selection are related to tooth development and/or the maintenance of a healthy junctional epithelium that attaches to the enamel surface of teeth. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-019-1359-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Springer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
| | - Christopher A Emerling
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Department of Biology, Whittier College, Whittier, CA, 90602, USA
| | - John Gatesy
- Division of Vertebrate Zoology and Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY, 10024, USA
| | - Jason Randall
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Matthew A Collin
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Nikolai Hecker
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Hiller
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany.,Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Systems Biology Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM), CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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19
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Lemos Queiroz AL, Oliveira do Carmo A, Kalapothakis Y, Vimieiro Martins AP, Kalapothakis E. Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Myrmecophaga tridactyla from Brazilian Savanna. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2018; 3:681-682. [PMID: 33474283 PMCID: PMC7799729 DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2018.1481785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Luiza Lemos Queiroz
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Anderson Oliveira do Carmo
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Yan Kalapothakis
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Vimieiro Martins
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Evanguedes Kalapothakis
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Molecular Markers, Biological Sciences Institute, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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20
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Feijó A, Patterson BD, Cordeiro-Estrela P. Taxonomic revision of the long-nosed armadillos, Genus Dasypus Linnaeus, 1758 (Mammalia, Cingulata). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195084. [PMID: 29624590 PMCID: PMC5889077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dasypus is the most speciose genus of the order Cingulata, including approximately 40% of known living armadillos. Nine species are currently recognized, although comprehensive analyses of the entire genus have never been done. Our aim is to revise the taxonomy of the long-nosed armadillos and properly define the taxa. We examined 2126 specimens of Dasypus preserved in 39 different museum collections, including 17 type specimens. Three complementary methods were applied to explore morphological datasets both qualitatively and quantitatively. Qualitative morphological variation in discrete characters was assessed by direct observations of specimens. Linear morphometric variation was based on external data and cranial measurements of 887 adult skulls. The shape and size of the skull was abstracted through two-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses of dorsal, lateral and ventral views of respectively 421, 211, and 220 adult specimens. Our results converge on the recognition of eight living species (D. beniensis, D. kappleri, D. mazzai, D. novemcinctus, D. pastasae, D. pilosus, D. sabanicola, and D. septemcinctus), and three subspecies of D. septemcinctus (D. s. septemcinctus, D. s. hybridus, and a new subspecies from Cordoba described here). Information on type material, diagnosis, distribution, and taxonomic comments for each taxon are provided. We designate a lectotype for D. novemcinctus; and a neotype for Loricatus hybridus (= D. septemcinctus hybridus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anderson Feijó
- Laboratório de mamíferos, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL, United States of America
| | - Pedro Cordeiro-Estrela
- Laboratório de mamíferos, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Campus I, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
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21
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Power ML, Watts SM, Murtough KL, Knight FM. Macronutrient composition of milk of captive nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus). J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Michael L Power
- Nutrition Laboratory and Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA
| | - S Michelle Watts
- Division of Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR, USA
| | - Katie L Murtough
- Nutrition Laboratory and Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA
- University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Frank M Knight
- Division of Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Ozarks, Clarksville, AR, USA
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22
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Morphology of the tongue of Vermilingua (Xenarthra: Pilosa) and evolutionary considerations. J Morphol 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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23
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Aya-Cuero C, Rodríguez-Bolaños A, Superina M. Population density, activity patterns, and ecological importance of giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus) in Colombia. J Mammal 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyx006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Coimbra RTF, Miranda FR, Lara CC, Schetino MAA, Santos FRD. Phylogeographic history of South American populations of the silky anteater Cyclopes didactylus (Pilosa: Cyclopedidae). Genet Mol Biol 2017; 40:40-49. [PMID: 28199442 PMCID: PMC5409769 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2016-0040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclopes didactylus, commonly called silky anteater, is the smallest
and least studied of the anteaters. It is an arboreal species occurring in
rainforests, ranging from southern Mexico to Central and South America, with an
apparently disjoint distribution between Amazon and Atlantic rainforests in Brazil.
Although seven subspecies are recognized, little is known about its geographical
variation. Thus, to evaluate the population dynamics and evolutionary history of the
South American silky anteater, we analyzed 1542 bp sequences of the mitochondrial
control region (CR), COI and Cyt-b genes of 32
individuals. Haplotype network, AMOVA and molecular dating analyses were performed
and identified seven geographic clusters. The split of lineages separating
Cyclopedidae (Cyclopes) and Myrmecophagidae
(Myrmecophaga and Tamandua genera) was estimated
around 41 million years ago (mya), and the intraspecific lineage diversification of
C. didactylus began in the Miocene around 13.5 mya, likely in
southwestern Amazonia. Tectonic and climatic events that took place in South America
during the Tertiary and Quaternary seem to have influenced the evolutionary history
of the species at different levels. This is the first study to investigate the
population dynamics and phylogeography of the silky anteater, which contributes to a
better comprehension of the biogeography of South America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Teodoro Franciscani Coimbra
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Flávia Regina Miranda
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Camila Clozato Lara
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Marco Antônio Alves Schetino
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Rodrigues Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Biodiversidade e Evolução Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Halliday TJD, Upchurch P, Goswami A. Resolving the relationships of Paleocene placental mammals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 92:521-550. [PMID: 28075073 PMCID: PMC6849585 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The 'Age of Mammals' began in the Paleocene epoch, the 10 million year interval immediately following the Cretaceous-Palaeogene mass extinction. The apparently rapid shift in mammalian ecomorphs from small, largely insectivorous forms to many small-to-large-bodied, diverse taxa has driven a hypothesis that the end-Cretaceous heralded an adaptive radiation in placental mammal evolution. However, the affinities of most Paleocene mammals have remained unresolved, despite significant advances in understanding the relationships of the extant orders, hindering efforts to reconstruct robustly the origin and early evolution of placental mammals. Here we present the largest cladistic analysis of Paleocene placentals to date, from a data matrix including 177 taxa (130 of which are Palaeogene) and 680 morphological characters. We improve the resolution of the relationships of several enigmatic Paleocene clades, including families of 'condylarths'. Protungulatum is resolved as a stem eutherian, meaning that no crown-placental mammal unambiguously pre-dates the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary. Our results support an Atlantogenata-Boreoeutheria split at the root of crown Placentalia, the presence of phenacodontids as closest relatives of Perissodactyla, the validity of Euungulata, and the placement of Arctocyonidae close to Carnivora. Periptychidae and Pantodonta are resolved as sister taxa, Leptictida and Cimolestidae are found to be stem eutherians, and Hyopsodontidae is highly polyphyletic. The inclusion of Paleocene taxa in a placental phylogeny alters interpretations of relationships and key events in mammalian evolutionary history. Paleocene mammals are an essential source of data for understanding fully the biotic dynamics associated with the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. The relationships presented here mark a critical first step towards accurate reconstruction of this important interval in the evolution of the modern fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. D. Halliday
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
| | - Paul Upchurch
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
| | - Anjali Goswami
- Department of Earth SciencesUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTU.K.
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Ruiz-García M, Chacón D, Plese T, Schuler I, Shostell JM. Mitogenomics phylogenetic relationships of the current sloth's genera and species (Bradypodidae and Megalonychidae). Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal 2017; 29:281-299. [PMID: 28129732 DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2016.1275602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
We sequenced the complete mitogenome of 39 sloths (19 Bradypus variegatus, 4 B. tridactylus, 1 B. pygmaeus, 1 B. torquatus, 4 Choloepus didactylus, and 10 C. hoffmanni). A Bayesian tree (BI) indicated a temporal split between Bradypus and Choloepus around 31 million years ago (MYA, Oligocene) and the other major splits within each genera during the Miocene and Pliocene. A haplotype network (MJN) estimated a lower temporal split between the sloth genera (around 23.5 MYA). Both methods detected the ancestor of B. torquatus as the first to diverge within Bradypus (21 for BI and 19 MJN), followed by that of the ancestor of B. tridactylus. The split of B. pygmaeus from the common ancestor with B. variegatus was around 12 MYA (BI) or 4.3 MYA (MJN). The splits among the previous populations of B. variegatus began around 8 MYA (BI) or 3.6 MYA (MJN). The trans-Andean population was the first to diverge from the remaining cis-Andean populations of B. variegatus. The genetic differentiation of the trans-Andean B. variegatus population relative to the cis-Andean B. variegatus is similar to that found for different species of sloths. The mitogenomic analysis resolved the differentiation of C. hoffmanni from the C. didactylus individuals of the Guiana Shield. However, one C. didactylus from the Colombian Amazon specimen was inside the C. hoffmanni clade. This could be the first example of possible natural hybridization in the Amazon of both Choloepus taxa or the existence of un-differentiable phenotypes of these two species in some Amazonian areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Ruiz-García
- a Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias , Pontificia Universidad Javeriana , Bogotá , DC , Colombia
| | - Diego Chacón
- a Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias , Pontificia Universidad Javeriana , Bogotá , DC , Colombia
| | | | - Ingrid Schuler
- a Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias , Pontificia Universidad Javeriana , Bogotá , DC , Colombia
| | - Joseph Mark Shostell
- c Math, Science and Technology Department , University of Minnesota Crookston , Crookston , MN , USA
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De novo sequencing, assembly and analysis of eight different transcriptomes from the Malayan pangolin. Sci Rep 2016; 6:28199. [PMID: 27618997 PMCID: PMC5020319 DOI: 10.1038/srep28199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pangolins are scale-covered mammals, containing eight endangered species. Maintaining pangolins in captivity is a significant challenge, in part because little is known about their genetics. Here we provide the first large-scale sequencing of the critically endangered Manis javanica transcriptomes from eight different organs using Illumina HiSeq technology, yielding ~75 Giga bases and 89,754 unigenes. We found some unigenes involved in the insect hormone biosynthesis pathway and also 747 lipids metabolism-related unigenes that may be insightful to understand the lipid metabolism system in pangolins. Comparative analysis between M. javanica and other mammals revealed many pangolin-specific genes significantly over-represented in stress-related processes, cell proliferation and external stimulus, probably reflecting the traits and adaptations of the analyzed pregnant female M. javanica. Our study provides an invaluable resource for future functional works that may be highly relevant for the conservation of pangolins.
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Gatesy J, Meredith RW, Janecka JE, Simmons MP, Murphy WJ, Springer MS. Resolution of a concatenation/coalescence kerfuffle: partitioned coalescence support and a robust family‐level tree for Mammalia. Cladistics 2016; 33:295-332. [DOI: 10.1111/cla.12170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John Gatesy
- Department of Biology University of California Riverside CA 92521 USA
| | - Robert W. Meredith
- Department of Biology and Molecular Biology Montclair State University Montclair NJ 07043 USA
| | - Jan E. Janecka
- Department of Biological Sciences Duquesne University Pittsburgh PA 15282 USA
| | - Mark P. Simmons
- Department of Biology Colorado State University Fort Collins CO 80523 USA
| | - William J. Murphy
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences Texas A&M University College Station TX 77843 USA
| | - Mark S. Springer
- Department of Biology University of California Riverside CA 92521 USA
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Foley NM, Springer MS, Teeling EC. Mammal madness: is the mammal tree of life not yet resolved? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:20150140. [PMID: 27325836 PMCID: PMC4920340 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most molecular phylogenetic studies place all placental mammals into four superordinal groups, Laurasiatheria (e.g. dogs, bats, whales), Euarchontoglires (e.g. humans, rodents, colugos), Xenarthra (e.g. armadillos, anteaters) and Afrotheria (e.g. elephants, sea cows, tenrecs), and estimate that these clades last shared a common ancestor 90-110 million years ago. This phylogeny has provided a framework for numerous functional and comparative studies. Despite the high level of congruence among most molecular studies, questions still remain regarding the position and divergence time of the root of placental mammals, and certain 'hard nodes' such as the Laurasiatheria polytomy and Paenungulata that seem impossible to resolve. Here, we explore recent consensus and conflict among mammalian phylogenetic studies and explore the reasons for the remaining conflicts. The question of whether the mammal tree of life is or can be ever resolved is also addressed.This article is part of the themed issue 'Dating species divergences using rocks and clocks'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Foley
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre East, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Mark S Springer
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Emma C Teeling
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Science Centre East, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Gibb GC, Condamine FL, Kuch M, Enk J, Moraes-Barros N, Superina M, Poinar HN, Delsuc F. Shotgun Mitogenomics Provides a Reference Phylogenetic Framework and Timescale for Living Xenarthrans. Mol Biol Evol 2015; 33:621-42. [PMID: 26556496 PMCID: PMC4760074 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msv250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Xenarthra (armadillos, sloths, and anteaters) constitutes one of the four major clades of placental mammals. Despite their phylogenetic distinctiveness in mammals, a reference phylogeny is still lacking for the 31 described species. Here we used Illumina shotgun sequencing to assemble 33 new complete mitochondrial genomes, establishing Xenarthra as the first major placental clade to be fully sequenced at the species level for mitogenomes. The resulting data set allowed the reconstruction of a robust phylogenetic framework and timescale that are consistent with previous studies conducted at the genus level using nuclear genes. Incorporating the full species diversity of extant xenarthrans points to a number of inconsistencies in xenarthran systematics and species definition. We propose to split armadillos into two distinct families Dasypodidae (dasypodines) and Chlamyphoridae (euphractines, chlamyphorines, and tolypeutines) to better reflect their ancient divergence, estimated around 42 Ma. Species delimitation within long-nosed armadillos (genus Dasypus) appeared more complex than anticipated, with the discovery of a divergent lineage in French Guiana. Diversification analyses showed Xenarthra to be an ancient clade with a constant diversification rate through time with a species turnover driven by high but constant extinction. We also detected a significant negative correlation between speciation rate and past temperature fluctuations with an increase in speciation rate corresponding to the general cooling observed during the last 15 My. Biogeographic reconstructions identified the tropical rainforest biome of Amazonia and the Guiana Shield as the cradle of xenarthran evolutionary history with subsequent dispersions into more open and dry habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian C Gibb
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France Ecology Group, Institute of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - Fabien L Condamine
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AL, Canada
| | - Melanie Kuch
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology and Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jacob Enk
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology and Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nadia Moraes-Barros
- Cibio/Inbio, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal Laboratório de Biologia Evolutiva e Conservação de Vertebrados (Labec), Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariella Superina
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología de la Fauna Silvestre, IMBECU, CCT CONICET Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Hendrik N Poinar
- McMaster Ancient DNA Centre, Department of Anthropology and Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Frédéric Delsuc
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, UMR 5554, CNRS, IRD, EPHE, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Zhou X, Sun F, Xu S, Yang G, Li M. The position of tree shrews in the mammalian tree: Comparing multi-gene analyses with phylogenomic results leaves monophyly of Euarchonta doubtful. Integr Zool 2015; 10:186-98. [PMID: 25311886 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The well-accepted Euarchonta grandorder is a pruned version of Archonta nested within the Euarchontoglires (or Supraprimates) clade. At present, it includes tree shrews (Scandentia), flying lemurs (Dermoptera) and primates (Primates). Here, a phylogenomic dataset containing 1912 exons from 22 representative mammals was compiled to investigate the phylogenetic relationships within this group. Phylogenetic analyses and hypothesis testing suggested that tree shrews can be classified as a sister group to Primates or to Glires or even as a basal clade within Euarchontoglires. Further analyses of both modified and original previously published datasets found that the phylogenetic position of tree shrews is unstable. We also found that two of three exonic indels reported as synapomorphies of Euarchonta in a previous study do not unambiguously support the monophyly of such a clade. Therefore, the monophyly of both Euarchonta and Sundatheria (Dermoptera + Scandentia) are suspect. Molecular dating and divergence rate analyses suggested that the ancestor of Euarchontoglires experienced a rapid divergence, which may cause the unresolved position of tree shrews even using the whole genomic data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuming Zhou
- Key laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Abba AM, Cassini GH, Valverde G, Tilak MK, Vizcaíno SF, Superina M, Delsuc F. Systematics of hairy armadillos and the taxonomic status of the Andean hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus nationi). J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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Moraes-Barros N, Arteaga MC. Genetic diversity in Xenarthra and its relevance to patterns of neotropical biodiversity. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Ezquiaga MC, Linardi PM, De Avelar DM, Lareschi M. A new species of Tunga perforating the osteoderms of its armadillo host in Argentina and redescription of the male of Tunga terasma. MEDICAL AND VETERINARY ENTOMOLOGY 2015; 29:196-204. [PMID: 25630228 DOI: 10.1111/mve.12106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/04/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A new species of Tunga (Siphonaptera: Tungidae) collected from armadillos in Argentina is described. The new species is characterized by large and pigmented eyes, the presence of two bristles on antennal segment II, two bristles at the base of the maxilla, and a discoid neosome compressed anteroposteriorly. The gravid female is located in the carapace of the host, perforating the osteoderms. The new species resembles Tunga penetrans and Tunga terasma in general appearance. However, it differs by the greater anteroposterior compression of the neosome, a more angular head, and a manubrium with a pointed proximal end and convex ventral margin (the proximal end of the manubrium is rounded or slightly pointed in T. terasma, and the ventral margin is straight in both T. penetrans and T. terasma). In addition, specimens of T. penetrans have more bristles in antennal segments II and III, and lack bristles in the posterior tibia. This is the first report of a species of Tunga perforating the osteoderms of its host and thereby showing a high degree of specialization. Tunga terasma is recorded for the first time in Argentina; the male is described again and the characteristics of the species amended. This information may be useful in epidemiological studies of diseases caused by species of Tunga.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Ezquiaga
- Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores (CEPAVE) (CCT La Plata-CONICET-UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
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37
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Averianov AO, Lopatin AV. High-level systematics of placental mammals: Current status of the problem. BIOL BULL+ 2014. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359014090039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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LINE-1 retrotransposons: from 'parasite' sequences to functional elements. J Appl Genet 2014; 56:133-45. [PMID: 25106509 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-014-0241-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Long interspersed nuclear elements-1 (LINE-1) are the most abundant and active retrotransposons in the mammalian genomes. Traditionally, the occurrence of LINE-1 sequences in the genome of mammals has been explained by the selfish DNA hypothesis. Nevertheless, recently, it has also been argued that these sequences could play important roles in these genomes, as in the regulation of gene expression, genome modelling and X-chromosome inactivation. The non-random chromosomal distribution is a striking feature of these retroelements that somehow reflects its functionality. In the present study, we have isolated and analysed a fraction of the open reading frame 2 (ORF2) LINE-1 sequence from three rodent species, Cricetus cricetus, Peromyscus eremicus and Praomys tullbergi. Physical mapping of the isolated sequences revealed an interspersed longitudinal AT pattern of distribution along all the chromosomes of the complement in the three genomes. A detailed analysis shows that these sequences are preferentially located in the euchromatic regions, although some signals could be detected in the heterochromatin. In addition, a coincidence between the location of imprinted gene regions (as Xist and Tsix gene regions) and the LINE-1 retroelements was also observed. According to these results, we propose an involvement of LINE-1 sequences in different genomic events as gene imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation and evolution of repetitive sequences located at the heterochromatic regions (e.g. satellite DNA sequences) of the rodents' genomes analysed.
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Li T, Hua J, Wright AM, Cui Y, Xie Q, Bu W, Hillis DM. Long-branch attraction and the phylogeny of true water bugs (Hemiptera: Nepomorpha) as estimated from mitochondrial genomes. BMC Evol Biol 2014; 14:99. [PMID: 24884699 PMCID: PMC4101842 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2148-14-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 04/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most previous studies of morphological and molecular data have consistently supported the monophyly of the true water bugs (Hemiptera: Nepomorpha). An exception is a recent study by Hua et al. (BMC Evol Biol 9: 134, 2009) based on nine nepomorphan mitochondrial genomes. In the analysis of Hua et al. (BMC Evol Biol 9: 134, 2009), the water bugs in the group Pleoidea formed the sister group to a clade that consisted of Nepomorpha (the remaining true water bugs) + Leptopodomorpha (shore bugs) + Cimicomorpha (assassin bugs and relatives) + Pentatomomorpha (stink bugs and relatives), thereby suggesting that fully aquatic hemipterans evolved independently at least twice. Based on these results, Hua et al. (BMC Evol Biol 9: 134, 2009) elevated the Pleoidea to a new infraorder, the Plemorpha. RESULTS Our reanalysis suggests that the lack of support for the monophyly of the true water bugs (including Pleoidea) by Hua et al. (BMC Evol Biol 9: 134, 2009) likely resulted from inadequate taxon sampling. In particular, long-branch attraction (LBA) between the distant outgroup taxa and Pleoidea, as well as LBA among taxa in the ingroup, made Nepomorpha appear to be polyphyletic. We used three complementary strategies to test and alleviate the effects of LBA: (1) the removal of distant outgroups from the analysis; (2) the addition of closely related outgroups; and (3) the addition of a mitochondrial genome from a second family of Pleoidea. We also performed likelihood-ratio tests to examine the support for monophyly of Nepomorpha with different combinations of taxa included in the analysis. Furthermore, we found that specimens of Helotrephes sp. were misidentified as Paraplea frontalis (Fieber, 1844) by Hua et al. (BMC Evol Biol 9: 134, 2009). CONCLUSIONS All analyses that included the addition of more taxa significantly and consistently supported the placement of Pleoidea within the Nepomorpha (i.e., supported the monophyly of the traditional true water bugs). Our analyses further support a close relationship between Notonectoidea and Pleoidea within Nepomorpha, and the superfamilies Nepoidea, Ochteroidea, Naucoroidea, and Pleoidea are resolved as monophyletic in all trees with strong support. Our results also confirmed that monophyly of Nepomorpha clearly is not refuted by the mitochondrial genome data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng Li
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jimeng Hua
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - April M Wright
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX 78712, USA
| | - Ying Cui
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Qiang Xie
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Wenjun Bu
- Institute of Entomology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - David M Hillis
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX 78712, USA
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Loughry WJ, McDonough CM. Beyond Natural History: Some Thoughts About Research Priorities in the Study of Xenarthrans. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.5537/020.014.0102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Abstract
Nuclear rDNA Internal Transcribed Spacers, ITS1 and ITS2, are widely used for eukaryote phylogenetic studies from the ordinal level to the species level, and there is even a database for ITS2 sequences. However, ITS regions have been ignored in mammalian phylogenetic studies, and only a few rodent and ape sequences are represented in GenBank. The reasons for this dearth, and the remedies, are described here. We have recovered these sequences, mostly >1 kb in length, for 36 mammalian species. Sequence alignment and transcript folding comparisons reveal the rRNA transcript secondary structure. Mammalian ITS regions, though quite long, still fold into the recognizable secondary structure of other eukaryotes. The ITS2 in particular bears the four standard helix loops, and loops II and III have the hallmark characters universal to eukaryotes. Both sequence and insertions/deletions of transcript secondary structure helices observed here support the four superorder taxonomy of Placentalia. On the family level, major unique indels, neatly excising entire helices, will be useful when additional species are represented, resulting in significant further understanding of the details of mammalian evolutionary history. Furthermore, the identification of a highly conserved element of ITS1 common to warm-blooded vertebrates may aid in deciphering the complex mechanism of RNA transcript processing. This is the last major group of terrestrial vertebrates for which rRNA ITS secondary structure has been resolved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette W Coleman
- Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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Lee A, Nolan A, Watson J, Tristem M. Identification of an ancient endogenous retrovirus, predating the divergence of the placental mammals. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2013; 368:20120503. [PMID: 23938752 PMCID: PMC3758187 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary arms race between mammals and retroviruses has long been recognized as one of the oldest host-parasite interactions. Rapid evolution rates in exogenous retroviruses have often made accurate viral age estimations highly problematic. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), however, integrate into the germline of their hosts, and are subjected to their evolutionary rates. This study describes, for the first time, a retroviral orthologue predating the divergence of placental mammals, giving it a minimum age of 104-110 Myr. Simultaneously, other orthologous selfish genetic elements (SGEs), inserted into the ERV sequence, provide evidence for the oldest individual mammalian-wide interspersed repeat and medium-reiteration frequency interspersed repeat mammalian repeats, with the same minimum age. The combined use of shared SGEs and reconstruction of viral orthologies defines new limits and increases maximum 'lookback' times, with subsequent implications for the field of paleovirology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Lee
- Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Alison Nolan
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Jason Watson
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Michael Tristem
- Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK
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Superina M, Pagnutti N, Abba AM. What do we know about armadillos? An analysis of four centuries of knowledge about a group of South American mammals, with emphasis on their conservation. Mamm Rev 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariella Superina
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología de la Fauna Silvestre; Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Centro Científico Tecnológico CONICET Mendoza; Av. Ruiz Leal s/n, Parque Gral. San Martín Mendoza 5500 Argentina
| | - Noralí Pagnutti
- División Zoología Vertebrados; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET; Paseo del Bosque s/n La Plata 1900 Argentina
| | - Agustín M. Abba
- División Zoología Vertebrados; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET; Paseo del Bosque s/n La Plata 1900 Argentina
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45
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Straehl FR, Scheyer TM, Forasiepi AM, MacPhee RD, Sánchez-Villagra MR. Evolutionary patterns of bone histology and bone compactness in xenarthran mammal long bones. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69275. [PMID: 23874932 PMCID: PMC3706384 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone microstructure reflects physiological characteristics and has been shown to contain phylogenetic and ecological signals. Although mammalian long bone histology is receiving increasing attention, systematic examination of the main clades has not yet been performed. Here we describe the long bone microstructure of Xenarthra based on thin sections representing twenty-two species. Additionally, patterns in bone compactness of humeri and femora are investigated. The primary bone tissue of xenarthran long bones is composed of a mixture of woven, parallel-fibered and lamellar bone. The vascular canals have a longitudinal, reticular or radial orientation and are mostly arranged in an irregular manner. Concentric rows of vascular canals and laminar organization of the tissue are only found in anteater bones. The long bones of adult specimens are marked by dense Haversian bone, a feature that has been noted for most groups of mammals. In the long bones of armadillos, secondary osteons have an oblique orientation within the three-dimensional bone tissue, thus resulting in their irregular shape when the bones are sectioned transversely. Secondary remodeling is generally more extensive in large taxa than in small taxa, and this could be caused by increased loading. Lines of arrested growth are assumed to be present in all specimens, but they are restricted to the outermost layer in bones of armadillos and are often masked by secondary remodeling in large taxa. Parameters of bone compactness show a pattern in the femur that separates Cingulata and Pilosa (Folivora and Vermilingua), with cingulates having a lower compactness than pilosans. In addition, cingulates show an allometric relationship between humeral and femoral bone compactness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona R. Straehl
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Torsten M. Scheyer
- Paläontologisches Institut und Museum, Universität Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | - Ross D. MacPhee
- Vertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, United States of America
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46
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Superina M, Jahn GA. Effect of low-quality diet on torpor frequency and depth in the pichi Zaedyus pichiy (Xenarthra, Dasypodidae), a South American armadillo. J Therm Biol 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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47
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Romiguier J, Ranwez V, Delsuc F, Galtier N, Douzery EJP. Less is more in mammalian phylogenomics: AT-rich genes minimize tree conflicts and unravel the root of placental mammals. Mol Biol Evol 2013; 30:2134-44. [PMID: 23813978 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/mst116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the rapid increase of size in phylogenomic data sets, a number of important nodes on animal phylogeny are still unresolved. Among these, the rooting of the placental mammal tree is still a controversial issue. One difficulty lies in the pervasive phylogenetic conflicts among genes, with each one telling its own story, which may be reliable or not. Here, we identified a simple criterion, that is, the GC content, which substantially helps in determining which gene trees best reflect the species tree. We assessed the ability of 13,111 coding sequence alignments to correctly reconstruct the placental phylogeny. We found that GC-rich genes induced a higher amount of conflict among gene trees and performed worse than AT-rich genes in retrieving well-supported, consensual nodes on the placental tree. We interpret this GC effect mainly as a consequence of genome-wide variations in recombination rate. Indeed, recombination is known to drive GC-content evolution through GC-biased gene conversion and might be problematic for phylogenetic reconstruction, for instance, in an incomplete lineage sorting context. When we focused on the AT-richest fraction of the data set, the resolution level of the placental phylogeny was greatly increased, and a strong support was obtained in favor of an Afrotheria rooting, that is, Afrotheria as the sister group of all other placentals. We show that in mammals most conflicts among gene trees, which have so far hampered the resolution of the placental tree, are concentrated in the GC-rich regions of the genome. We argue that the GC content-because it is a reliable indicator of the long-term recombination rate-is an informative criterion that could help in identifying the most reliable molecular markers for species tree inference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Romiguier
- CNRS, Université Montpellier, Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Montpellier, France.
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48
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Sidorkewicj NS, Casanave EB. Morphological characterization and sex-related differences of the mandible of the armadillos Chaetophractus vellerosus and Zaedyus pichiy (Xenarthra, Dasypodidae), with consideration of dietary aspects. IHERINGIA. SERIE ZOOLOGIA 2013. [DOI: 10.1590/s0073-47212013000200011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The morphological characteristics of the mandible of adult Chaetophractus vellerosus (Gray, 1865) and Zaedyus pichiy (Desmarest, 1804) were studied to establish its generalized design and to identify inter- and intra- (sexual) specific differences. Morphological descriptions were complemented with the application of univariate and multivariate (analysis of correlation matrices, PCA, discriminant analysis) techniques. The mandible of both species is very similar, and is characterized by elevated condyle, well developed angular process, distinct coronoid process, tooth row which extends to the rear end of the angle between body and ramus, and unfused but firm symphysis. Although both armadillos are omnivorous, a more slender configuration of the jaw in Z. pichiy could be indicative of a better adaptation of its masticatory apparatus to insectivory. The PCA showed an almost total segregation of both species on PC1 (47.7% of the total variance), with C. vellerosus being associated to mandibles taller and with wider body and ramus. Zaedyus pichiy was characterized by heavy loadings of length parameters on PC2 (22.6% of the variance). A small degree of sexual dimorphism was found, with size-based differences in C. vellerosus (larger mandibles in females) and shape-based differences in Z. pichiy (taller mandibles in males, longer ones in females). Correlations between variables were higher in males of both species, indicating a more stable shape of the mandible than in females. The selected parameters to discriminate sexes were the body length of the mandible in C. vellerosus (correct classification: ca. 86% in males, 81% in females), and the height of the mandible at the level of the last tooth in Z. pichiy (near 85% of right assignment in both sexes). The inclusion of a new variable (body length) in the latter species improved the classification of the females to 100%. Teeth are typically 10 in C. vellerosus and 9 in Z. pichiy, but aberrancies in this basic number, such as unilateral or bilateral extra or fewer teeth, are common.
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49
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Nabholz B, Uwimana N, Lartillot N. Reconstructing the phylogenetic history of long-term effective population size and life-history traits using patterns of amino acid replacement in mitochondrial genomes of mammals and birds. Genome Biol Evol 2013; 5:1273-90. [PMID: 23711670 PMCID: PMC3730341 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The nearly neutral theory, which proposes that most mutations are deleterious or close to neutral, predicts that the ratio of nonsynonymous over synonymous substitution rates (dN/dS), and potentially also the ratio of radical over conservative amino acid replacement rates (Kr/Kc), are negatively correlated with effective population size. Previous empirical tests, using life-history traits (LHT) such as body-size or generation-time as proxies for population size, have been consistent with these predictions. This suggests that large-scale phylogenetic reconstructions of dN/dS or Kr/Kc might reveal interesting macroevolutionary patterns in the variation in effective population size among lineages. In this work, we further develop an integrative probabilistic framework for phylogenetic covariance analysis introduced previously, so as to estimate the correlation patterns between dN/dS, Kr/Kc, and three LHT, in mitochondrial genomes of birds and mammals. Kr/Kc displays stronger and more stable correlations with LHT than does dN/dS, which we interpret as a greater robustness of Kr/Kc, compared with dN/dS, the latter being confounded by the high saturation of the synonymous substitution rate in mitochondrial genomes. The correlation of Kr/Kc with LHT was robust when controlling for the potentially confounding effects of nucleotide compositional variation between taxa. The positive correlation of the mitochondrial Kr/Kc with LHT is compatible with previous reports, and with a nearly neutral interpretation, although alternative explanations are also possible. The Kr/Kc model was finally used for reconstructing life-history evolution in birds and mammals. This analysis suggests a fairly large-bodied ancestor in both groups. In birds, life-history evolution seems to have occurred mainly through size reduction in Neoavian birds, whereas in placental mammals, body mass evolution shows disparate trends across subclades. Altogether, our work represents a further step toward a more comprehensive phylogenetic reconstruction of the evolution of life-history and of the population-genetics environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Nabholz
- Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, UMR 5554 CNRS, Universite Montpellier II, France
| | - Nicole Uwimana
- Département de Biochimie, Centre Robert Cedergren, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Lartillot
- Département de Biochimie, Centre Robert Cedergren, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier, UMR 5506, CNRS-Université de Montpellier 2, France
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50
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Mess AM, Favaron PO, Pfarrer C, Osmann C, Melo APF, Rodrigues RF, Ambrósio CE, Bevilacqua E, Miglino MA. Placentation in the anteaters Myrmecophaga tridactyla and Tamandua tetradactyla (Eutheria, Xenarthra). Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2012; 10:102. [PMID: 23199198 PMCID: PMC3527233 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-10-102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Accepted: 11/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since Xenarthra are serious candidates for being basal to Eutheria, their characteristics, e.g. the placental system, influence perceptions of evolution. However, in the subgroup containing the anteaters, data are very limited. The present study aims to elucidate the nature of the feto-maternal interface in the anteater placenta and to interpret these data within an evolutionary context. METHODS Placentas of two species were investigated with histology, immunohistochemistry and transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Remnants of the maternal vessel endothelium were absent, resulting in a fully haemochorial barrier throughout the placenta. Two structurally different parts, the villous and trabecular areas were complex and intermingled. In particular, the trabeculae which consisted of cellular, proliferative trophoblast, associated with connective tissue, were attached to the decidua. The villi contained fetal capillaries and hypertrophied mesenchymal cells that occurred near the surface near the end of gestation. The surface of the villi consisted of flat, syncytial trophoblast, interspersed with proliferative trophoblast cells. CONCLUSIONS Based on fundamental differences between anteaters and armadillos, we inferred that placental evolution was more complex than previously thought. The haemochorial pattern of anteaters was likely an ancient condition of xenarthrans. Consequently, villous placentation may be attributed, at least in part, by convergent evolution, but was also characterized by some features that were widespread among xenarthrans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea M Mess
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Phelipe O Favaron
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Christiane Pfarrer
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Allan PF Melo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Rosangela F Rodrigues
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Carlos E Ambrósio
- Department of Basic Science, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, ZAB, Pirassununga, CEP 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Estela Bevilacqua
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-900, Brazil
| | - Maria A Miglino
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-270, Brazil
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