The phylogenetic relationships of cynopterine fruit bats (Chiroptera: Pteropodidae: Cynopterinae)

FRANCISCA CUNHA ALMEIDA; NOBERTO P. GIANNINI; ROB DESALLE; NANCY B. SIMMONS

MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Año: 2009 vol. 53 p. 772 - 783

1055-7903

The subfamily Cynopterinae comprises ca. 24 species of pteropodid bats (Family Pteropodidae) distrib- uted exclusively in South and Southeast Asia. Although some studies have supported monophyly of the subfamily, molecular analyses have produced contradictory results and there has been little agree- ment on relationships of cynopterines to other megabat groups. However, no previous studies have included a complete sampling of cynopterine genera. Here we describe a phylogenetic analysis of Cynop- terinae based on more than 6000 bp from six different genes sampled in representatives of all 14 recog- nized genera. Our results support the monophyly of Cynopterinae but refute a close relationship of cynopterines with Nyctimeninae. Within Cynopterinae, our analyses consistently recovered two mono- phyletic clades, which we recommend be recognized formally as tribes: Cynopterini and Balionycterini. Biogeographic analyses indicate a Sundaland origin of the Cynopterinae and divergence date estimates suggest different timing of diversification of the two major cynopterine clades.