A genomic exploration of the early evolution of extant cats and their sabre-toothed relatives
Westbury, Michael V. (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
Barnett, Ross (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
Sandoval-Velasco, Marcela (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
Gower, Graham (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
Garrett Vieira, Filipe (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
de Manuel, Marc (Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (UPF-CSIC) (Barcelona))
Hansen, Anders Johannes (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
Yamaguchi, Nobuyuki (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development)
Werdelin, Lars (Swedish Museum of Natural History. Department of Palaeobiology)
Marques-Bonet, Tomas 1975- (Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont)
Gilbert, M. Thomas P. (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)
Lorenzen, Eline (University of Copenhagen. The GLOBE Institute)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Background: The evolutionary relationships of Felidae during their Early-Middle Miocene radiation is contentious. Although the early common ancestors have been subsumed under the grade-group Pseudaelurus, this group is thought to be paraphyletic, including the early ancestors of both modern cats and extinct sabretooths. Methods: Here, we sequenced a draft nuclear genome of Smilodon populator, dated to 13,182 ± 90 cal BP, making this the oldest palaeogenome from South America to date, a region known to be problematic for ancient DNA preservation. We analysed this genome, together with genomes from other extinct and extant cats to investigate their phylogenetic relationships. Results: We confirm a deep divergence (~20. 65 Ma) within sabre-toothed cats. Through the analysis of both simulated and empirical data, we show a lack of gene flow between Smilodon and contemporary Felidae. Conclusions: Given that some species traditionally assigned to Pseudaelurus originated in the Early Miocene ~20 Ma, this indicates that some species of Pseudaelurus may be younger than the lineages they purportedly gave rise to, further supporting the hypothesis that Pseudaelurus was paraphyletic.
Grants:	European Commission 681396 European Commission 298820
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Open Research Europe, Vol. 1 (2021) , art. 25, ISSN 2732-5121

DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.13104.2
PMID: 35098251

16 p, 809.0 KB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Institut Català de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont (ICP)
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