A time-calibrated species tree of Crocodylia reveals a recent radiation of the true crocodiles.

摘要: True crocodiles (Crocodylus) are the most broadly distributed, ecologically diverse, and species-rich crocodylian genus, comprising about half of extant diversity exhibiting a circumtropical distribution. Crocodylus traditionally has been viewed as an ancient group morphologically conserved species that originated in Africa prior to continental breakup. In this study, these long-held notions temporal geographic origin tested using DNA sequence data 10 loci from 76 individuals representing all 23 species. I infer time-calibrated tree Crocodylia estimate spatial pattern diversification within Crocodylus. For first time, fully resolved phylogenetic is well-supported. The results overturn traditional views evolution by demonstrating true not “living-fossils” Africa. Rather, ancestor tropics Late Miocene Indo-Pacific, rapidly radiated dispersed around globe during period marked mass extinctions fellow crocodylians. findings also reveal more genus than recognized current taxonomy.