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Gu T, Hu J, Yu L. Evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins. Integr Zool 2024; 19:426-441. [PMID: 38146613 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Pangolins (Pholidota, Manidae) are classified as an evolutionarily distinct and globally endangered mammal due to their unique morphology (nail-like scales and a myrmecophagous diet) and being the victim of heavy poaching and worldwide trafficking. As such, pangolins serve as a textbook example for studying the special phenotypic evolutionary adaptations and conservation genetics of an endangered species. Recent years have demonstrated significant advancements in the fields of molecular genetics and genomics, which have translated to a series of important research achievements and breakthroughs concerning the evolution and conservation genetics of pangolins. This review comprehensively presents the hitherto advances in phylogeny, adaptive evolution, conservation genetics, and conservation genomics that are related to pangolins, which will provide an ample understanding of their diversity, molecular adaptation mechanisms, and evolutionary potentials. In addition, we highlight the priority of investigating species/population diversity among pangolins and suggest several avenues of research that are highly relevant for future pangolin conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Jingyang Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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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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Gu TT, Wu H, Yang F, Gaubert P, Heighton SP, Fu Y, Liu K, Luo SJ, Zhang HR, Hu JY, Yu L. Genomic analysis reveals a cryptic pangolin species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304096120. [PMID: 37748052 PMCID: PMC10556634 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304096120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Eight extant species of pangolins are currently recognized. Recent studies found that two mitochondrial haplotypes identified in confiscations in Hong Kong could not be assigned to any known pangolin species, implying the existence of a species. Here, we report that two additional mitochondrial haplotypes identified in independent confiscations from Yunnan align with the putative species haplotypes supporting the existence of this mysterious species/population. To verify the new species scenario we performed a comprehensive analysis of scale characteristics and 138 whole genomes representing all recognized pangolin species and the cryptic new species, 98 of which were generated here. Our morphometric results clearly attributed this cryptic species to Asian pangolins (Manis sp.) and the genomic data provide robust and compelling evidence that it is a pangolin species distinct from those recognized previously, which separated from the Philippine pangolin and Malayan pangolin over 5 Mya. Our study provides a solid genomic basis for its formal recognition as the ninth pangolin species or the fifth Asian one, supporting a new taxonomic classification of pangolins. The effects of glacial climate changes and recent anthropogenic activities driven by illegal trade are inferred to have caused its population decline with the genomic signatures showing low genetic diversity, a high level of inbreeding, and high genetic load. Our finding greatly expands current knowledge of pangolin diversity and evolution and has vital implications for conservation efforts to prevent the extinction of this enigmatic and endangered species from the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Tong Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Hong Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region999077, China
| | - Philippe Gaubert
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier, 31062Toulouse Cedex 9, France
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Universidade do Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Porto4450-208, Portugal
| | - Sean P. Heighton
- Laboratoire Evolution et Diversité Biologique, Université Toulouse III–Paul Sabatier, 31062Toulouse Cedex 9, France
| | - Yeyizhou Fu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Ke Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Shu-Jin Luo
- The State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Hua-Rong Zhang
- Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Tai Po, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region999077, China
| | - Jing-Yang Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming650500, China
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