Molecular assessment of the phylogeny and biogeography of a recently diversified endemic group of South American canids (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae).

TCHAICKA L.; FREITAS T.R.O.; BAGER A.; LUENGOS VIDAL E.; LUCHERINI M.; IRIARTE A.; NOVARO A.J.; GEFFEN E.; GARCEZ F.S.; JOHNSON W.; WAYNE R.K.; EIZIRIK E.

GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

SOC BRASIL GENETICA

Año: 2016 vol. 39 p. 442 - 451

1415-4757

To investigate the evolution and biogeography of anendemic group of South American foxes, we examined mitochondrial DNA controlregion sequences for 118 individuals belonging to all six extant species of thegenus Lycalopex. Phylogenetic and molecular dating analyses supported theinference that this genus has undergone a very recent and rapid radiation,stemming from a common ancestor that lived ca. 1 million years ago. TheBrazilian endemic L. vetulus was supported as the most basal species in thisgenus, whereas the most internal group is comprised by the recently diverged(ca. 350,000 years ago) Andean/Patagonian species L. griseus and L. culpaeus.We discuss the inferred phylogenetic relationships and divergence times in thecontext of the current geographic distributions of these species, and thelikely effects of Pleistocene climatic changes on the biogeography of thisgroup. Furthermore, a remarkable finding was the identification of multipleindividuals classified as L. gymnocercus bearing mtDNA haplotypes clearlybelonging to L. griseus, sampled in regions where the latter is not known tooccur. At a minimum, this result implies the need to clarify the present-daygeographic distribution of each of these fox species, while it may alsoindicate an ongoing hybridization process between them. Future testing of thishypothesis with in-depth analyses of these populations is thus a priority forunderstanding the history, evolutionary dynamics and present-day composition ofthis endemic Neotropical genus.