Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gregory F. Funston, Paige E. dePolo, Jakub T. Sliwinski, Matthew Dumont, Sarah L. Shelley, Laetitia E. Pichevin, Nicola J. Cayzer, John R. Wible, Thomas E. Williamson, James W. B. Rae, Stephen L. Brusatte
Summary: After the end-Cretaceous extinction, placental mammals quickly diversified, occupied key ecological niches and increased in size. The reproduction style in early placental mammals remains unknown. A study on a 62 million-year-old pantodont, the clade including the first mammals to achieve large body sizes, reveals that it reproduced like a placental with a long gestation period, rapid dental development, and short suckling interval. These findings suggest the ability to produce well-developed, precocial young was established early in placental evolution and larger neonate sizes were a possible mechanism for rapid size increase in early placentals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole M. Foley, Victor C. Mason, Andrew J. Harris, Kevin R. Bredemeyer, Joana Damas, Harris A. Lewin, Eduardo Eizirik, John Gatesy, Elinor K. Karlsson, Kerstin Lindblad-Toh, Zoonomia Consortium Zoonomia Consortium, Mark S. Springer, William J. Murphy
Summary: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 241 placental mammal genome assemblies, providing a deeper understanding of the speciation events and evolution patterns of these mammals. Our analysis revealed low rates of conflict in interordinal relationships across different datasets and methods, while conflicts between X-chromosomes and autosomes characterized multiple independent clades that emerged during the Cenozoic era. Furthermore, our genomic time trees suggest that important speciation events occurred before and after the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, indicating the significance of continental vicariance and the K-Pg extinction event in the placental radiation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yunhuan Liu, Emily Carlisle, Huaqiao Zhang, Ben Yang, Michael Steiner, Tiequan Shao, Baichuan Duan, Federica Marone, Shuhai Xiao, Philip C. J. Donoghue
Summary: The early history of deuterostomes, composed of chordates, echinoderms, and hemichordates, is still controversial due to a lack of representative fossils. The microscopic animal Saccorhytus coronarius was previously thought to be an early deuterostome, but new material and analyses have shown that it actually belongs to the total group Ecdysozoa. This expands the morphological and ecological diversity of early Cambrian ecdysozoans.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yang Chen, Zhikun Gai, Qiang LI, Jianhua Wang, Lijian Peng, Guangbiao Wei, Min Zhu
Summary: A new genus and species of agnathan fish, Yongdongaspis littoralis gen. et sp. nov., has been discovered in the Llandovery Huixingshao Formation in southwestern China. This fish exhibits transitional characteristics between Sinogaleaspidae and a higher group of eugaleaspidiforms. Phylogenetic analysis confirms Yongdongaspis as a sister taxon of this higher group. This discovery provides new fossil evidence for the subdivision and correlation of the Upper Red Beds in South China.
ACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA-ENGLISH EDITION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peggy L. Brady, Mark S. Springer
Summary: Pseudoextinction analyses simulate extinction in extant taxa to assess the accuracy of morphological phylogenetics using molecular phylogenetics. Recent studies suggest that including hypothetical ancestors may increase accuracy, but difficulties arise when direct hypothetical ancestors are unknown, making it challenging to accurately place extinct taxa.
Article
Geology
O. V. Vernygora, A. M. Murray
Summary: Armigatus is an extinct clupeomorph genus comprising five species, with A. alticorpus being the least studied. Recent material from Lebanon suggests that A. alticorpus can be included in phylogenetic analysis, revealing close affinities with younger species in the genus. Comparisons of multiple specimens allowed for the establishment of morphological traits aiding in species delimitation.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wesley A. Brashear, Kevin R. Bredemeyer, William J. Murphy
Summary: Research indicates that the gene content and linkage conservation of the X chromosome in placental mammals are subject to strong evolutionary and functional constraints. Most ampliconic gene families are found on the ancestral X chromosome of placental mammals, and the conservation of gene order and recombination patterns is attributed to selective constraints on three-dimensional genomic architecture necessary for superloop formation. Compensatory inversions have evolved in species with rearranged X chromosomes to maintain critical long-range physical interactions essential for superloop formation during X-chromosome inactivation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aidan M. C. Couzens, Karen E. Sears, Martin Rucklin
Summary: The study investigates how development influenced the early dental evolution in placental mammals, focusing on the transition from a triangular upper molar to a more complex upper molar with a rectangular cusp pattern. Through simulations, researchers found that increased self-regulation of molecular activator led to accelerated evolutionary increases in enamel knot number, creating a lateral knot arrangement. They also suggest that relatively small changes in activation superimposed on ancestral molar growth pattern could recreate key changes in cusps, influencing the divergence of placental molar dentition.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Erynn Johnson, David Peterman, Aja Carter
Summary: The fossil record is a valuable dataset for studying biodiversity, but it has been limited by various barriers. However, advances in technology now allow for the study of ancient organisms using Defossilized Organismal Proxies (DOPs). These techniques have the potential to revolutionize paleontology and other related fields by integrating ecology, evolutionary biology, and bioinspired engineering. Establishing a framework for this methodological development is important for maximizing the scientific impact of DOP-based experiments.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nathan S. Upham, Jacob A. Esselstyn, Walter Jetz
Summary: The study compares mammalian diversification-rate signatures based on molecular timetrees and fossil genus durations, showing a surge of speciation during the Paleocene. It suggests that molecular timetrees need fossil-correction for deep-time questions, but are sufficient for shallower time questions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily Carlisle, Christine M. Janis, Davide Pisani, Philip C. J. Donoghue, Daniele Silvestro
Summary: The origin of placental mammals has been a subject of debate, with molecular clock estimates suggesting an origin before the K-Pg extinction event, while the absence of definitive fossils before the boundary indicates a post-Cretaceous origin. However, a Bayesian Brownian bridge model suggests a Late Cretaceous origin for placental mammals. The findings support the hypothesis that placental mammals originated shortly before the K-Pg mass extinction.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Changqun Zhang, Haojie Zhou, Fredrik Christiansen, Yujiang Hao, Kexiong Wang, Zhangbing Kou, Ruipeng Chen, Jie Min, Randall Davis, Ding Wang
Summary: In this study, 3D modeling techniques were used to measure the volume of marine mammals. The most accurate results were obtained using Blender 3D models, with only a 2.5% mean error compared to direct measurements. Elliptical models with 19 height and width measurements also yielded similar accuracy, while truncated models with 3 or 5 girth measurements had lower accuracy. Researchers are recommended to use digital 3D models or elliptical models with 5% increments to accurately estimate the body volumes of free-ranging marine mammals.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Neil Brocklehurst, David P. Ford, Roger B. J. Benson
Summary: The divergence in macroevolutionary patterns between synapsids and reptiles laid the foundation for subsequent evolutionary events and may be critical in understanding the substantial differences between mammals and reptiles today. The early burst of evolution in amniotes resulted in the early origins of morphologically distinctive subgroups, with reptiles showing more constrained evolution compared to synapsids. The differences in rates and constraints of morphological evolution provide insights into the evolutionary history and potential explanations for the biological differences between these two groups.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michelangelo Bisconti, Giorgio Carnevale
Summary: This study reviews the morphological patterns of baleen whale cetaceans and explores the fundamental morphological transformations in the transition to the Mysticeti clade. The analysis focuses on skull and postcranial characters and supports the step-wise process of the origin and evolution of mysticetes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tak-Kei Chou, Min-Yun Liu, Te-Yu Liao
Summary: In this study, the phylogeny of lionfishes was reconstructed using genetic sequencing, leading to a revised taxonomy. The results showed that Dendrochirus and Pterois were not monophyletic and were divided into multiple clades. Based on molecular and morphological data, Dendrochirus and Pterois were proposed for D. I and Pt. I, respectively, while a new genus, Neochirus, was proposed for the D. II clade. Furthermore, the genera Pteropterus and Nemapterois were revalidated for Pt. II and D. III, respectively.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giovanni Bianucci, Jonathan H. Geisler, Sara Citron, Alberto Collareta
Summary: The killer whale and false killer whale are the only extant cetaceans that hunt other marine mammals, and their feeding behavior evolved independently. A new extinct representative of the killer whale ecomorph was discovered, showing the stepwise evolution of killer whale-like features and the adaptive origin of hunting behavior in both lineages during the Pleistocene.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ellen J. Coombs, Ryan N. Felice, Julien Clavel, Travis Park, Rebecca F. Bennion, Morgan Churchill, Jonathan H. Geisler, Brian Beatty, Anjali Goswami
Summary: The evolution of cetaceans from terrestrial mammals to highly specialized aquatic animals is characterized by significant anatomical changes in feeding, respiratory, and sensory structures of the cranium. The evolution of cetaceans occurred through three periods of rapid evolution, with diet and echolocation playing the strongest roles in shaping cranial morphology.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rachel Roston, Robert Boessenecker, Jonathan Geisler
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gabriel Jorgewich-Cohen, Rafael S. Henrique, Pedro Henrique Dias, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: Optimal egg size theory suggests that changes in egg and clutch characteristics are driven by selection, aiming for the largest possible production of offspring with the highest fitness. Our study found that large-bodied turtles tend to produce larger clutches with small and round eggs, while smaller species produce small clutches with large and elongated eggs. We also observed inverse correlations between egg shape and size with clutch size, with different evolutionary rates. Additionally, there is evidence of convergence in reproductive strategies among different turtle lineages. Climatic zone and diet were identified as important ecological factors influencing egg and clutch traits among turtles.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Madeleine Geiger, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra, Emma Sherratt
Summary: Domestication leads to similar phenotypic characteristics across species, known as domestication syndrome. However, the existence of this syndrome has been debated due to a lack of evidence in many species. This study provides new evidence by examining cranial shape changes in rabbits. The results show differences in snout, teeth, and braincase between domesticated and wild rabbits, as well as more variation in neural crest-derived parts of the cranium. Although preliminary, this study adds to the growing evidence of nonuniform patterns associated with domestication.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Evolutionary Biology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Sirpa Nummela, Gabriel Aguirre-Fernandez, Kathleen K. Smith, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: We studied the growth trajectories of middle ear ossicles and tympanic membrane in gray short-tailed opossums and found that the malleus and incus have different growth patterns despite their shared evolutionary origin from branchial arch 1. The maturation of the middle ear is associated with improved hearing sensitivity at low and high frequencies.
VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Paleontology
Alfredo A. Carlini, Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceno, Arturo Jaimes, Orangel Aguilera, Alfredo E. Zurita, Jose Iriarte, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: Muaco and Taima-Taima sites in Venezuela are early human occupation sites in South America, with artifacts and preserved megafaunal remains dating back to 19,810-15,780 years ago. This study presents new visual and CT scanning analysis of glyptodont skulls from these sites, revealing intentional fractures in the fronto-parietal region caused by direct human percussion. The technique targeted areas of thinner cephalic shield for greater impact. These findings suggest human-glyptodont interaction during the Late Pleistocene, with an estimated 150-170 kg of potential food sources from an adult Glyptotherium cylindricum.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Daniel Nunez-Leon, Hiroshi Nagashima, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: The study found variation in two specific structures of the chondrocranium during embryonic development and in adults, which may be an example of intraspecific variation under domestication.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Editorial Material
Evolutionary Biology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Calum J. McKay, W. Patrick Luckett, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: This study thoroughly documented the dental development of pouch young Caluromys philander by studying a developmental series of ten individuals and using histological sections and 3D models. The study found that the successor P3 arises from a lingual successional lamina from its predecessor dP3, and the germs of vestigial deciduous incisors and canines are present alongside their permanent successors. These discoveries show unexpected diversity of dental ontogeny and highlight differences from previous studies on Didelphis and Monodelphis.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christophe Ronez, Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceno, Patricia Hadler, Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra, Ulyses F. J. Pardinas
Summary: We report the first occurrence of Sigmodontinae from the Pliocene of northern South America, specifically from the San Gregorio Formation in northwestern Venezuela. The recovered isolated molars are identified as Oligoryzomys sp. and Zygodontomys sp., representing the oldest representatives of these genera and suggesting potential new species. These findings provide new evidence for the historical biogeography of sigmodontines and support the existence of an eastern corridor of open environments for dispersion in South America.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra, Mariano Bond, Marcelo Reguero, Tomas Bartoletti
Summary: Roth's explorations and scientific contributions hold significant importance in the global history of paleontology and Swiss migration history in Latin America. His discoveries include diverse megafauna, important paleontological sites and strata, and evidence of human coexistence with extinct fauna. His work at the Museo de La Plata established his reputation as a renowned scholar, and his efforts to attract Swiss nationals to Argentina for scientific research demonstrate his commitment to both his native country and the field of natural sciences.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Jorge. D. D. Carrillo-Briceno, Raul I. Vezzosi, Keesha. M. M. Ming, Zoe. M. M. Christen, Dimila Mothe, Damian Ruiz-Ramoni, Marcelo. R. R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: This study describes and examines a collection of Nearctic ungulates from Pleistocene deposits in the Pampean region of Argentina. These fossils were collected in the nineteenth century by Santiago Roth and brought to Europe, where they are currently housed in the paleontological collections of the University of Zurich and the Natural History Museum of Geneva. Although the exact stratigraphic position of these fossils is often uncertain due to their age, this historical collection still holds value for taxonomic, palaeobiogeographical, and palaeobiological studies of the region's Pleistocene mammalian fauna.
SWISS JOURNAL OF PALAEONTOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Marcelo R. Sanchez-Villagra
Summary: Cross-cultural studies using methods from evolutionary biology and comparative linguistics are flourishing, with great potential to address questions of cultural transformation and human history. However, these studies are poorly integrated with core cultural anthropology. The comparative approach of Claude Levi-Strauss, searching for universals and documenting diversity, provides an example for cultural macroevolution studies. Integration with core anthropology would enhance the synergistic interaction of disciplines.
EVOLUTIONARY HUMAN SCIENCES
(2022)
