Family-level relationships among the Australasian marsupial “herbivores” (Diprotodontia: Koala, wombats, kangaroos and possums)


Autoria(s): Phillips, Matthew J.; Pratt, Renae C.
Data(s)

2008

Resumo

The marsupial order Diprotodontia includes 10 extant families, which occupy all terrestrial habitats across Australia and New Guinea and have evolved remarkable dietary and locomotory diversity. Despite considerable attention, the interrelations of these families have for the most part remained elusive. In this study, we separately model mitochondrial RNA and protein-coding sequences in addition to nuclear protein-coding sequences to provide near-complete resolution of diprotodontian family-level phylogeny. We show that alternative topologies inferred in some previous studies are likely to be artifactual, resulting from branch-length and compositional biases. Subordinal groupings resolved herein include Vombatiformes (wombats and koala) and Phalangerida, which in turn comprises Petauroidea (petaurid gliders and striped, feathertail, ringtail and honey possums) and a clade whose plesiomorphic members possess blade-like premolars (phalangerid possums, kangaroos and their allies and most likely, pygmy possums). The topology resolved reveals ecological niche structuring among diprotodontians that has likely been maintained for more than 40 million years.

Identificador

http://eprints.qut.edu.au/50535/

Publicador

Elsevier

Relação

DOI:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.09.008

Phillips, Matthew J. & Pratt, Renae C. (2008) Family-level relationships among the Australasian marsupial “herbivores” (Diprotodontia: Koala, wombats, kangaroos and possums). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 46(2), pp. 594-605.

Direitos

Copyright 2008 Elsevier

Fonte

School of Earth, Environmental & Biological Sciences; Science & Engineering Faculty

Palavras-Chave #060400 GENETICS #Marsupial #Diprotodontia #Phalangerida #Molecular phylogeny #Long-term ecological niche differentiation
Tipo

Journal Article