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- Title
Mesozoic origin for West Indian insectivores.
- Authors
Roca, Alfred L.; Bar-Gal, Gila Kahila; Eizirik, Eduardo; Helgen, Kristofer M.; Maria, Roberto; Springer, Mark S.; O'Brien, Stephen J.; Murphy, William J.
- Abstract
The highly endangered solenodons, endemic to Cuba (Solenodon cubanus) and Hispaniola (S. paradoxus), comprise the only two surviving species of West Indian insectivores. Combined gene sequences (13.9 kilobases) from S. paradoxus established that solenodons diverged from other eulipotyphlan insectivores 76 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, which is consistent with vicariance, though also compatible with dispersal. A sequence of 1.6 kilobases of mitochondrial DNA from S. cubanus indicated a deep divergence of 25 million years versus the congeneric S. paradoxus, which is consistent with vicariant origins as tectonic forces separated Cuba and Hispaniola. Efforts to prevent extinction of the two surviving solenodon species would conserve an entire lineage as old or older than many mammalian orders.
- Subjects
MESOZOIC paleomagnetism; MESOZOIC stratigraphic geology; INSECTIVORES (Mammals); MITOCHONDRIAL DNA; BIOLOGICAL extinction; WEST Indians
- Publication
Nature, 2004, Vol 429, Issue 6992, p649
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/nature02597