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Related Concept Videos

Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons02:54

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Genome comparison is one of the excellent ways to interpret the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The basic principle of genome comparison is that if two species share a common feature, it is likely encoded by the DNA sequence conserved between both species. The advent of genome sequencing technologies in the late 20th century enabled scientists to understand the concept of conservation of domains between species and helped them to deduce evolutionary relationships across diverse...
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Tissue Collection of Bats for -Omics Analyses and Primary Cell Culture
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Genomic analysis reveals a cryptic pangolin species.

Tong-Tong Gu1, Hong Wu1, Feng Yang2

  • 1State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 25, 2023
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A new pangolin species, potentially the ninth recognized, has been identified through genetic and scale analysis. This discovery highlights the need for urgent conservation efforts for this endangered species.

Keywords:
pangolinspopulation genomicsspecies delimitation

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Area of Science:

  • Zoology
  • Genomics
  • Conservation Biology

Background:

  • Eight pangolin species are currently known.
  • Previous studies suggested a new species based on mitochondrial DNA from confiscated pangolins.
  • This study aimed to confirm the existence and taxonomic status of this cryptic pangolin.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To verify the existence of a new pangolin species using comprehensive morphological and genomic data.
  • To establish the taxonomic classification and evolutionary history of the newly identified pangolin.
  • To assess the conservation status and genetic diversity of this enigmatic species.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of scale characteristics (morphometrics) from confiscated pangolins.
  • Whole-genome sequencing of 138 pangolins, including the cryptic species.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine evolutionary relationships and divergence times.

Main Results:

  • Morphometric analysis confirmed the cryptic species belongs to Asian pangolins (Manis sp.).
  • Genomic data provided robust evidence for a distinct species, diverging from the Philippine and Malayan pangolins over 5 million years ago.
  • The new species exhibits low genetic diversity, high inbreeding, and high genetic load, indicative of population decline.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides strong genomic evidence supporting the formal recognition of a ninth pangolin species.
  • This finding necessitates a revised taxonomic classification for pangolins.
  • Urgent conservation strategies are crucial to protect this endangered species from extinction due to climate change and illegal trade.