The mummy returns… and sheds new light on old questions

Whether as the ancient Egyptian crocodile-god Sobek, a terrifying predator of African waterways, or simply as a premium handbag leather, the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) has long held the fascination of mankind. Despite 200 years of study, however, uncertainty remains as to its taxonomy. While resolving such issues are key to understanding the origins and biogeography of the so-called true crocodiles of genus Crocodylus, given widespread ongoing range contraction, such issues are paramount for design of future conservation strategies. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Hekkala et al. (2011) apply analysis of modern, historic and ancient DNA (aDNA) to the questions, with far-reaching implications. First they demonstrate that, as currently described, the Nile crocodile is paraphyletic, with individuals from the east and western clades separated by a number of New World crocodile species. The consequences of this finding are as important for conservation efforts as for their impact on crocodile taxonomy. Furthermore, they strike at the heart of the long-standing debate over whether aDNA analysis of ancient Egyptian mummies is scientifically sound.