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Hidden species diversity in an iconic living fossil vertebrate.

ABSTRACT: Ancient, species-poor lineages persistently occur across the Tree of life. These lineages are likely to contain unrecognized species diversity masked by the low rates of morphological evolution that characterize living fossils. Halecomorphi is a lineage of ray-finned fishes that diverged from its closest relatives before 200 Ma and is represented by only one living species in eastern North America, the bowfin, Amia calva Linnaeus. Here, we use double digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing and morphology to illuminate recent speciation in bowfins. Our results support the delimitation of a second living species of Amia, with the timing of diversification dating to the Plio-Pleistocene. This delimitation expands the species diversity of an ancient lineage that is integral to studies of vertebrate genomics and development, yet is facing growing conservation threats driven by the caviar fishery.

SUBMITTER: Brownstein CD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9709656 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Hidden species diversity in an iconic living fossil vertebrate.

Brownstein Chase D CD Kim Daemin D Orr Oliver D OD Hogue Gabriela M GM Tracy Bryn H BH Pugh M Worth MW Singer Randal R Myles-McBurney Chelsea C Mollish Jon Michael JM Simmons Jeffrey W JW David Solomon R SR Watkins-Colwell Gregory G Hoffman Eva A EA Near Thomas J TJ

Biology letters 20221130 11

Ancient, species-poor lineages persistently occur across the Tree of life. These lineages are likely to contain unrecognized species diversity masked by the low rates of morphological evolution that characterize living fossils. Halecomorphi is a lineage of ray-finned fishes that diverged from its closest relatives before 200 Ma and is represented by only one living species in eastern North America, the bowfin, <i>Amia calva</i> Linnaeus. Here, we use double digest restriction-site-associated DNA ...[more]

PMID: 36448369

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Dataset Information

Hidden species diversity in an iconic living fossil vertebrate.

Publications

Hidden species diversity in an iconic living fossil vertebrate.

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