Independent adaptation to riverine habitats allowed survival of ancient cetacean lineages.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 97(21): 11343-7, 2000 Oct 10.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-11027333
ABSTRACT
The four species of "river dolphins" are associated with six separate great river systems on three subcontinents and have been grouped for more than a century into a single taxon based on their similar appearance. However, several morphologists recently questioned the monophyly of that group. By using phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequences from three mitochondrial and two nuclear genes, we demonstrate with statistical significance that extant river dolphins are not monophyletic and suggest that they are relict species whose adaptation to riverine habitats incidentally insured their survival against major environmental changes in the marine ecosystem or the emergence of Delphinidae.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Adaptación Fisiológica
/
Núcleo Celular
/
Cetáceos
/
Evolución Biológica
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Año:
2000
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bélgica