scholarly journals Origin of raptorial feeding in juvenile euarthropods revealed by a Cambrian radiodontan

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 863-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianni Liu ◽  
Rudy Lerosey-Aubril ◽  
Michael Steiner ◽  
Jason A Dunlop ◽  
Degan Shu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Early Developmental Stage ◽  
Rapid Rise ◽  
Juvenile Instar ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dietary Ecology ◽  
Chengjiang Biota ◽  
Early Developmental

Abstract The rapid rise of arthropods during the Cambrian quickly established some clades, such as the euarthropod stem-group called Radiodonta, as the dominant and most diverse predators in marine ecosystems. Recent discoveries have shown that the size and dietary ecology of radiodontans are far more diverse than previously thought, but little is known about the feeding habits of juveniles. Here, we document a very small (∼18-mm-long), near-complete specimen of the radiodontan Lyrarapax unguispinus from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Biota of China. This specimen is the smallest radiodontan individual known, representing a juvenile instar. Its adult-like morphology—especially the fully developed spinose frontal appendages and tetraradial oral cone—indicates that L. unguispinus was a well-equipped predator at an early developmental stage, similar to modern raptorial euarthropods, such as mantises, mantis shrimps and arachnids. This evidence, coupled with the basal phylogenetic position of radiodontans, confirms that raptorial feeding habits in juvenile euarthropods appeared early in the evolutionary history of the group.

scholarly journals Nephromyces represents a diverse and novel lineage of the Apicomplexa that has retained apicoplasts

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio A Muñoz-Gómez ◽  
Keira Durnin ◽  
Laura Eme ◽  
Christopher Paight ◽  
Christopher E Lane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Style ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathways ◽  
History Of ◽  
Sea Squirts ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Apicoplast Genome

Abstract A most interesting exception within the parasitic Apicomplexa is Nephromyces, an extracellular, probably mutualistic, endosymbiont found living inside molgulid ascidian tunicates (i.e., sea squirts). Even though Nephromyces is now known to be an apicomplexan, many other questions about its nature remain unanswered. To gain further insights into the biology and evolutionary history of this unusual apicomplexan, we aimed to (1) find the precise phylogenetic position of Nephromyces within the Apicomplexa, (2) search for the apicoplast genome of Nephromyces, and (3) infer the major metabolic pathways in the apicoplast of Nephromyces. To do this, we sequenced a metagenome and a metatranscriptome from the molgulid renal sac, the specialized habitat where Nephromyces thrives. Our phylogenetic analyses of conserved nucleus-encoded genes robustly suggest that Nephromyces is a novel lineage sister to the Hematozoa, which comprises both the Haemosporidia (e.g., Plasmodium) and the Piroplasmida (e.g., Babesia and Theileria). Furthermore, a survey of the renal sac metagenome revealed 13 small contigs that closely resemble the genomes of the non-photosynthetic reduced plastids, or apicoplasts, of other apicomplexans. We show that these apicoplast genomes correspond to a diverse set of most closely related but genetically divergent Nephromyces lineages that co-inhabit a single tunicate host. In addition, the apicoplast of Nephromyces appears to have retained all biosynthetic pathways inferred to have been ancestral to parasitic apicomplexans. Our results shed light on the evolutionary history of the only probably mutualistic apicomplexan known, Nephromyces, and provide context for a better understanding of its life style and intricate symbiosis.

Phylogenetic position and evolutionary history of the turtle and whale barnacles (Cirripedia: Balanomorpha: Coronuloidea)

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryota Hayashi ◽  
Benny K.K. Chan ◽  
Noa Simon-Blecher ◽  
Hiromi Watanabe ◽  
Tamar Guy-Haim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
History Of

scholarly journals Three new Cenomanian conifers from El Chango (Chiapas, Mexico) offer a snapshot of the geographic mosaic of the Mesozoic conifer decline

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ixchel Gonzalez-Ramirez ◽  
Sergio RS Cevallos-Ferriz ◽  
Carl Rothfels
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Total Evidence ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Geographic Mosaic ◽  
History Of ◽  
Rare Opportunity

Premise of study: El Chango is a recently discovered quarry that contains extremely well preserved fossils. The Cenomanian age of the locality corresponds to a time when the global flora was transitioning from gymnosperm- to angiosperm-dominated, yet conifers predominate in this locality. These fossils thus provide a rare opportunity to understand the replacement of conifers by angiosperms as the dominant group of plants. Methods: We collected material from El Chango in annual expeditions (2010 to 2014). We selected the three most abundant and best preserved conifer morphotypes and conducted a total-evidence (i.e., including molecular and morphological data) phylogenetic analysis of a sample of 72 extant conifer species plus the three fossils. We use these results to inform our taxonomic decisions. Results: We obtained four equally most-parsimonious trees (consistency index = 44.1%, retention index = 78.8%). Despite ambiguous relationships among some extant taxa, the three fossil conifers had the same phylogenetic position in all four most parsimonious trees; we describe these species as new: Sequoiadendron helicalancifolium sp. nov. (Cupressaceae), and Microcachrys rhomboidea sp. nov. and Dacrydium bifoliosus sp. nov (Podocarpaceae). The ecosystem is interpreted as a coastal humid mixed forest. Conclusions: Our findings contribute to the understanding of Cenomanian equatorialregions, and support the hypothesis of a geographically and ecologically structured rise of angiosperms, with conifers remaining dominant in brackish-water and angiosperms becoming dominant in freshwater-ecosystems. These fossils fill in gaps in the evolutionary history of lineages like Microcachrys, which we demonstrate occurred in the Northern hemisphere before becoming restricted to its current range (Tasmania).

Phylogenetic evidence for independent origins of GDF1 and GDF3 genes in amphibians and mammals

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan C. Opazo ◽  
Kattina Zavala
Keyword(s):  
Growth Factor ◽  
Early Development ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Transforming Growth Factor ◽  
Ancestral Gene ◽  
Differentiation Factors ◽  
Duplication Events ◽  
Independent Duplication ◽  
History Of ◽  
Early Developmental

AbstractGrowth differentiation factors 1 (GDF1) and 3 (GDF3) are members of the transforming growth factor superfamily (TGF-β) that is involved in fundamental early-developmental processes that are conserved across vertebrates. The evolutionary history of these genes is still under debate due to ambiguous definitions of homologous relationships among vertebrates. Thus, the goal of this study was to unravel the evolution of the GDF1 and GDF3 genes of vertebrates, emphasizing the understanding of homologous relationships and their evolutionary origin. Surprisingly, our results revealed that the GDF1 and GDF3 genes found in amphibians and mammals are the products of independent duplication events of an ancestral gene in the ancestor of each of these lineages. The main implication of this result is that the GDF1 and GDF3 genes of amphibians and mammals are not 1:1 orthologs. In other words, genes that participate in fundamental processes during early development have been reinvented two independent times during the evolutionary history of tetrapods.

The amphibamiform Nanobamus macrorhinus from the early Permian of Texas

2019 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 366-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan M. Gee ◽  
Robert R. Reisz
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Early Permian ◽  
Larval Form ◽  
Terrestrial Environments ◽  
History Of ◽  
Insight Into

AbstractNanobamus macrorhinus Schoch and Milner, 2014 is a small amphibamiform temnospondyl from the early Permian Arroyo Formation of Texas. It is most readily characterized by an elongate and partially subdivided naris. This condition is superficially reminiscent of that seen in the coeval trematopids, the group to which N. macrorhinus was originally referred to under an interpretation of the holotype as a larval form. This was discounted by later workers, but the amphibamiform affinities of the specimen were not formalized until recently. The specimen has never been described in the context of its amphibamiform affinities and remains poorly characterized, never having been sampled in a phylogenetic analysis. Here we present a complete, updated osteological description of N. macrorhinus, including an improved characterization of its unique mosaic of plesiomorphic and apomorphic features and clarification of the taxon's autapomorphies. Our analysis of the taxon's phylogenetic position within Amphibamiformes shows that N. macrorhinus was recovered as diverging after basal amphibamiforms, e.g., the micropholids, and before derived amphibamiforms, e.g., the amphibamids. This is supported by the unique mixture of retained plesiomorphies, e.g., nonforeshortened postparietals and an oval choana, and apomorphies, e.g., a narrow interorbital region and slender palatal rami of the pterygoid. These results reflect the complexity of terrestrial amphibamiform diversity and provide further insight into the evolutionary history of the lissamphibian stem in terrestrial environments.

scholarly journals The palate and choanae structure of the cf. Susisuchus (Crocodyliformes, Eusuchia): phylogenetic implications

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla J Leite ◽  
Daniel C Fortier
Keyword(s):  
Lower Cretaceous ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Ventral View ◽  
Sister Group ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Phylogenetic Implications ◽  
History Of

Crocodyliformes have undergone few modifications in their morphology since they have emerged. The change in the position of the choana was important during the evolutionary history of this group. Such character is relevant in the phylogenetic position of many crocodyliforms. The Susisuchidae clade has been placed in different phylogenetic positions: as a sister group of Eusuchia, advanced Neosuchia and in Eusuchia. In Isisfordia there are reports that the choana of this taxon is or not fully enclosed by pterygoid. A new skull of cf. Susisuchus from the Crato Formation of the Santana Group (Lower Cretaceous) is described and we recover Susisuchidae in a new phylogenetic position within Eusuchia. The preservation in the ventral view of FPH-243-V allows character encoding not yet observed for the species. The new specimen shows a typical eusuchian palate for Susisuchus, in which the choana is fully enclosed by the pterygoid. The encoding of the ventral characters of Susisuchus places Susisuchidae in Eusuchia. However, this position must be further studied, since the matrices showed fragility in the reconstitution of the Neosuchia-Eusuchia transition.

scholarly journals Diversification patterns based on the largest morphological phylogenetic analysis of Pleurodira

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel S Ferreira ◽  
Juliana Sterli ◽  
Mario Bronzati Filho ◽  
Max C Langer
Keyword(s):  
Early Cretaceous ◽  
Late Cretaceous ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Phylogenetic Analyses ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Phylogenetic Hypothesis ◽  
Consensus Tree ◽  
Strict Consensus Tree ◽  
History Of

Background. Most studies on pleurodiran turtles are about the behavior and/or feeding habits analyzes, description of new taxa or specimens (both extinct and extant), or phylogenetic analyzes of one of its subclades with extant taxa: Chelidae, Pelomedusidae or Podocnemididae. With the exception of some molecular phylogenies, there are no phylogenetic analyses of extant and extinct representatives of Pleurodira including all of its lineages. A broader understanding of the evolutionary history of Pleurodira requires a phylogenetic hypothesis based on more extensive taxonomic and character samplings.Methods. We constructed a taxon-character matrix including 227 morphological characters and 87 taxa from all the Pleurodira lineages, plus one stem Pan-Pleurodira, Notoemys laticentralis, and one stem-Testudinata, Proganochelys quenstedti, as outgroups. The resulting matrix was analyzed using parsimony, Tree Bisection and Reconnection (TBR) algorithms, with 5000 replicates, and a hold of 20. The obtained strict consensus tree was used as the basis of a diversification analysis using topology-based methods. A nestedgrowing tree approach was employed to create a corresponding tree for different intervals of the geological history of the group. Six distinct time bins were created for periods in which members of Pleurodira occur: Early Cretaceous, Late Cretaceous, Paleocene, Eocene, Miocene, and Recent. Results. All main pleurodiran clades were recovered in the strict consensus tree, but with some changes in their relationship compared to previous analyses, e.g. the inclusiveness of both Pelomedusoides and Bothremydidae. The diversification analysis shows that, after the establishment of the two major lineages (i.e. Chelidae and Pelomedusoides) in the Early Cretaceous, these subgroups diversified in distinct rates along their evolutionary history. Two main diversification shifts were identified: one at the early evolution of Podocnemoidea, during the Late Cretaceous, and another during the Miocene, deep nested in the Podocnemididae clade. Discussion. The resulting strict consensus tree is the largest exclusive phylogenetic hypothesis for Pleurodira, including both extant and extinct taxa. Based on morphological data, it allows more inclusive inferences on the general morphological and diversification patterns of the group. The diversification pulses analysis suggests variation on the rates of diversification on the different pleurodiran clades. The first shift detected is related to the great radiation of Bothremydidae and Podocnemoidae in the Late Cretaceous; the second shift, detected in the Miocene, is related to a diversification within the Stereogenyina, a Podocnemididae clade. Ongoing analysis will determine which factors could enforce those different diversification rates in the evolution of Pleurodira.

Diversity and preserved shell coloration patterns of Miocene Conidae (Neogastropoda) from an exposure of the Gatun Formation, Colón Province, Panama

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 804-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan R. Hendricks
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Phylogenetic Diversity ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Shell Morphology ◽  
Snail Species ◽  
Cone Snail ◽  
Phylogenetic Studies ◽  
Biogeographic History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Coloration Patterns

AbstractExtant members of the neogastropod family Conidae (cone snails) are renowned for their often dazzling shell coloration patterns and venomous feeding habits. Many cone snail species have also been described from the fossil record, but to date have been little used to understand the evolutionary history of extant clades. The cone snail fauna of the Miocene Gatun Formation of Colón Province, Panama is especially important for understanding the temporal and biogeographic history of tropical American Conidae. Intensive, focused collecting from an exposure of the lower Gatun Formation (deposited ca. 11–10 Ma) resulted in the discovery of nearly 900 specimens of Conidae. Remarkably, many of these well-preserved specimens exhibit revealed coloration patterns when exposed to ultraviolet light. The fluorescing coloration patterns were used in conjunction with other features of shell morphology to differentiate species and, in most cases, evaluate their potential relationships to members of the extant tropical American fauna. Nine species are fully described from this locality, one of which is recognized as new:Conus(Stephanoconus)woodringin. sp. At least one, and perhaps more, additional Conidae species are also present at the study locality. The diversity of this Conidae fauna is considered moderate relative to other recently analyzed tropical American fossil assemblages. The phylogenetic diversity of the assemblage, however, is noteworthy: six of the ten species can be confidently assigned to six different clades of extant Conidae, providing potentially useful calibration points for future phylogenetic studies.http://zoobank.org/8fe00c31-8f3f-4514-85af-29068e468cd3

scholarly journals The convoluted evolutionary history of the capped-golden langur lineage (Cercopithecidae: Colobinae) – concatenation versus coalescent analyses

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunal Arekar ◽  
Abhijna Parigi ◽  
K. Praveen Karanth
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Incomplete Lineage Sorting ◽  
Phylogenetic Position ◽  
Lineage Sorting ◽  
Nuclear Markers ◽  
Mitochondrial Markers ◽  
Multispecies Coalescent ◽  
Nuclear Species ◽  
History Of ◽  
Golden Langur

AbstractEvolutionary studies have traditionally relied on concatenation based methods to reconstruct relationships from multiple markers. However, due to limitations of concatenation analyses, recent studies have proposed coalescent based methods to address evolutionary questions. Results from these methods tend to diverge from each other under situations where there is incomplete lineage sorting or hybridization. Here we used concatenation as well as multispecies coalescent (MSC) methods to understand the evolutionary origin of capped and golden langur (CG) lineage. Previous molecular studies have retrieved conflicting phylogenies, with mitochondrial tree grouping CG lineage with a largely Indian genus Semnopithecus, while nuclear markers support their affinities with a Southeast Asian genus, Trachypithecus. However, as pointed by others, the use of nuclear copies of mitochondrial DNA in the above studies might have generated the discordance. Because of this discordance, the phylogenetic position of CG lineage has been much debated in recent times. In this study, we have used nine nuclear and eight mitochondrial markers. Concatenated nuclear as well as the mitochondrial dataset recovered congruent relationships where CG lineage was sister to Trachypithecus. However nuclear species tree estimated using different MSC methods were incongruent with the above result, suggesting presence of incomplete lineage sorting (ILS)/hybridisation. Furthermore, CG lineage is morphologically intermediate between Semnopithecus and Trachypithecus. Based on this evidence, we argue that CG lineage evolved through hybridisation between Semnopithecus and Trachypithecus. Finally, we reason that both concatenation as well as coalescent methods should be used in conjunction for better understanding of various evolutionary hypotheses.

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