A Molecular Phylogeny for Bats Illuminates Biogeography and the Fossil Record
University College Dublin · University of California, Riverside · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Bats make up more than 20% of extant mammals, yet their evolutionary history is largely unknown because of a limited fossil record and conflicting or incomplete phylogenies. Here, we present a highly resolved molecular phylogeny for all extant bat families. Our results support the hypothesis that megabats are nested among four major microbat lineages, which originated in the early Eocene [52 to 50 million years ago (Mya)], coincident with a significant global rise in temperature, increase in plant diversity and abundance, and the zenith of Tertiary insect diversity. Our data suggest that bats originated in Laurasia, possibly in North America, and that three of the major microbat lineages are Laurasian in…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 87.50
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 21
Authors
6- ECEmma C. TeelingCorresponding
University College Dublin, University of California, Riverside, Radboud University Nijmegen, Sevenoaks Hospital, Science Applications International Corporation (United States)
- MSMark S. SpringerCorresponding
University College Dublin, University of California, Riverside, Radboud University Nijmegen, Sevenoaks Hospital, Science Applications International Corporation (United States)
- OMOle Madsen
University College Dublin, University of California, Riverside, Radboud University Nijmegen, Sevenoaks Hospital, Science Applications International Corporation (United States)
- PJPaul J. J. Bates
University College Dublin, University of California, Riverside, Radboud University Nijmegen, Sevenoaks Hospital, Science Applications International Corporation (United States)
- SJStephen J. O’BrienCorresponding
University College Dublin, University of California, Riverside, Radboud University Nijmegen, Sevenoaks Hospital, Science Applications International Corporation (United States)
Topics & keywords
- Laurasia
- Biology
- Lineage (genetic)
- Molecular clock
- Biogeography
- Phylogenetics
- Fossil Record
- Evolutionary biology