Ancient DNA Reveals The Evolutionary Origins of Extinct Glyptodonts

Among the fossils of hitherto unknown mammals that Darwin collected in South America between 1832 and 1833 during the Beagle expedition were examples of the large, heavily armored herbivores later known as glyptodonts. Ever since then, glyptodonts have fascinated evolutionary biologists because of their remarkable skeletal adaptations and seemingly isolated phylogenetic position even within their natural group, the cingulate xenarthrans (armadillos and their allies). In possessing a carapace comprised of fused osteoderms, the glyptodonts were clearly related to other cingulates, but their precise phylogenetic position as suggested by morphology remains unresolved. To provide a molecular perspective on this issue, we designed sequence-capture baits using in silico reconstructed ancestral sequences and successfully assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of Doedicurus, one of the largest glyptodonts. Our phylogenetic reconstructions establish that glyptodonts are in fact deeply nested within the armadillo crown group, representing a distinct subfamily (Glyptodontinae) within family Chlamyphoridae. Molecular dating suggests that glyptodonts diverged no earlier than ca. 35 million years (Myr) ago, in good agreement with their known fossil record. Our results highlight the derived nature of the glyptodont morphotype, one aspect of which is a spectacular increase in body size until their extinction at the end of the last ice age.

Reference: Delsuc F., Gibb G.C., Kuch M., Billet G., Hautier L., Southon J., Rouillard J.-M., Fernicola J.C., Vizcaíno S.F., McPhee R.D.M & Poinar H.N. (2016). The phylogenetic affinities of the extinct glyptodonts. Current Biology 24: R155-R156. Associated CNRS press release (in french) Associated University of McMaster press release (in english)