Molecular Data Reveals the Evolutionary Affinities of the Pink-fairy Armadillo (Chlamyphorus truncat
The presence/absence patterns of retroposons from approximately 7,400 genomic loci have been investigated, identifying 35 phylogenetically informative elements and an additional 39 rare genomic changes (RGCs) informative for xenarthran phylogeny. DAS-short interspersed elements (SINEs), previously described only in the Dasypus novemcinctus genome, were found in all living armadillo genera, including the previously unsampled Chlamyphorus, but were noticeably absent in sloths. The presence/absence patterns of the phylogenetically informative retroposed elements and other RGCs were then compared with data from the DNA sequences of the more than 12-kb flanking regions of these retroposons. Together, these data provide the first fully resolved genus tree of xenarthrans. The phylogenetic position of the subfamily Chlamyphorinae is resolved by the noncoding sequence data set as the sister group of Tolypeutinae. The data provide a stable phylogenetic framework for further evolutionary investigations of xenarthrans and important information for defining conservation priorities to save the diversity of one of the most curious groups of mammals.
Reference: Möller-Krull M.*, Delsuc F.*, Churakov G., Marker C., Superina M., Brosius J., Douzery E.J.P. & Schmitz J. (2007).
Retroposed elements and their flanking regions resolved the evolutionary history of xenarthran mammals (armadillos, anteaters and sloths).