Identification, classification and evolution of owl monkeys (Aotus, Illiger 1811)

Area of Science:

• Primatology
• Molecular Phylogenetics
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Owl monkeys (Aotus) are crucial biomedical models, yet their taxonomy and phylogeography are understudied.
• Morphological similarities cause frequent misidentifications, especially at distribution edges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To resolve species identification and reconstruct the phylogeny of the genus Aotus.
• To investigate the evolutionary history and diversification of Aotus species.

Main Methods:

• Sequencing of five mitochondrial regions (MT-CO1, MT-TS1, MT-TD, MT-CO2, MT-CYB) and the Y-linked SRY gene.
• Phylogenetic reconstructions using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference on concatenated and individual gene datasets.
• Comparison with karyotypic and biogeographic data.

Main Results:

• A tentative phylogeny for Aotus was proposed, suggesting divergence around 4.62 Million years before present (MYBP).
• Sequence data aided in assessing the species identification of existing GenBank specimens.
• Genetic distance estimates and haplotypic differences supported species validation.

Conclusions:

• Phylogenetic reconstructions challenge conventional views of Aotus diversification into distinct grey and red-necked groups.
• The study provides a robust molecular framework for understanding Aotus taxonomy and evolution.