Remarkable ancient divergences amongst neglected lorisiform primates

Area of Science:

• Primate evolutionary biology
• Molecular phylogenetics
• Taxonomy and biogeography

Background:

• Lorisiform primates comprise ~10% of primate species, found in Africa and Asia.
• Their taxonomy, evolutionary history, and biogeography are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct the largest molecular phylogeny of lorisiform primates to date.
• To clarify evolutionary relationships and divergence times within Lorisiformes.
• To assess current lorisiform diversity and identify potential cryptic species.

Main Methods:

• Sequencing of the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for 86 lorisiform specimens.
• Phylogenetic analysis incorporating ~80% of recognized lorisiform species.
• Comparison with existing nuclear DNA-based studies.

Main Results:

• Monophyly of the Galagidae family is supported.
• A common ancestry for Lorisinae and Perodicticinae (Lorisidae) was not recovered.
• Galagidae and Lorisinae diverged around 30 Mya (Oligocene); Perodicticinae emerged in the early Miocene.
• Euoticus identified as the oldest galagid lineage; Galagoides confirmed as polyphyletic.
• Phylogenetic relationships for several previously unstudied species were elucidated.

Conclusions:

• Lorisiform evolutionary history involves early divergences of major lineages.
• Current estimates of lorisiform diversity are likely underestimated.
• Cryptic diversity may exist within lorisiform lineages, warranting comprehensive taxonomic revision.