The late Miocene radiation of modern Felidae: a genetic assessment

Science. 2006 Jan 6;311(5757):73-7. doi: 10.1126/science.1122277.

Abstract

Modern felid species descend from relatively recent (<11 million years ago) divergence and speciation events that produced successful predatory carnivores worldwide but that have confounded taxonomic classifications. A highly resolved molecular phylogeny with divergence dates for all living cat species, derived from autosomal, X-linked, Y-linked, and mitochondrial gene segments (22,789 base pairs) and 16 fossil calibrations define eight principal lineages produced through at least 10 intercontinental migrations facilitated by sea-level fluctuations. A ghost lineage analysis indicates that available felid fossils underestimate (i.e., unrepresented basal branch length) first occurrence by an average of 76%, revealing a low representation of felid lineages in paleontological remains. The phylogenetic performance of distinct gene classes showed that Y-chromosome segments are appreciably more informative than mitochondrial DNA, X-linked, or autosomal genes in resolving the rapid Felidae species radiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Africa
  • Americas
  • Animals
  • Asia
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Cats / classification
  • Cats / genetics
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • Europe
  • Felidae / classification*
  • Felidae / genetics*
  • Felis / classification
  • Felis / genetics
  • Fossils
  • Genes
  • Genetic Speciation*
  • Lynx / classification
  • Lynx / genetics
  • Panthera / classification
  • Panthera / genetics
  • Phylogeny
  • Puma / classification
  • Puma / genetics
  • X Chromosome / genetics
  • Y Chromosome / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • DNA