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Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2012 Mar 5. [Epub ahead of print]

Evolutionary and biogeographic history of weasel-like carnivorans
(Musteloidea).

Sato JJ, Wolsan M, Prevosti FJ, D'Elia G, Begg C, Begg K, Hosoda T,
Campbell KL, Suzuki H.

Source
Laboratory of Animal Cell Technology, Faculty of Life Science and
Technology, Fukuyama University, Higashimura-cho, Aza, Sanzo, 985,
Fukuyama 729-0292, Japan.

Abstract
We analyzed a concatenated (8492bp) nuclear-mitochondrial DNA data
set from 44 musteloids (including the first genetic data for Lyncodon
patagonicus) with parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods
of phylogenetic and biogeographic inference and two Bayesian methods
of chronological inference. Here we show that Musteloidea emerged
approximately 32.4-30.9 million years ago (MYA) in Asia, shortly after
the greenhouse-icehouse global climate shift at the Eocene-Oligocene
transition. During their Oligocene radiation, which proceeded wholly
or mostly in Asia, musteloids diversified into four primary divisions:
the Mephitidae lineage separated first, succeeded by Ailuridae and the
divergence of the Procyonidae and Mustelidae lineages. Mustelidae arose
approximately 16.1 MYA within the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum, and
extensively diversified in the Miocene, mostly in Asia. The early
offshoots of this radiation largely evolved into badger and marten
ecological niches (Taxidiinae, Melinae, Mellivorinae, Guloninae, and
Helictidinae), whereas the later divergences have adapted to other
niches including those of weasels, polecats, minks, and otters
(Mustelinae, Ictonychinae, and Lutrinae). Notably, and contrary to
traditional beliefs, the morphological adaptations of badgers, martens,
weasels, polecats, and minks each evolved independently more than once
within Mustelidae. Ictonychinae (which is most closely related to
Lutrinae) arose approximately 9.5-8.9 MYA, most likely in Asia, where
it diverged into the Old World Ictonychini (Vormela, Poecilictis,
Ictonyx, and Poecilogale) and New World Lyncodontini (Lyncodon and
Galictis) lineages. Ictonychini presumably entered Africa during the
Messinian Salinity Crisis (at the Miocene-Pliocene transition), which
interposed the origins of this clade (approximately 6.5-6.0 MYA) and
its African Poecilictis-Ictonyx-Poecilogale subclade (approximately
4.8-4.5 MYA). Lyncodontini originated approximately 2.9-2.6 MYA at the
Pliocene-Pleistocene transition in South America, slightly after the
emergence of the Panamanian land bridge that provided for the Great
American Biotic Interchange. As the genera Martes and Ictonyx (as
currently circumscribed) are paraphyletic with respect to the genera
Gulo and Poecilogale, respectively, we propose that Pekaniaand
Poecilictis be treated as valid genera and that "Martes"pennanti
and "Ictonyx"libyca, respectively, be assigned to these genera.
Copyright (c) 2012. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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[Posted in FML 7368]