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Convergent and Parallel Evolution in Early Glires (Mammalia)

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Evolutionary Biology: Self/Nonself Evolution, Species and Complex Traits Evolution, Methods and Concepts

Abstract

Glires (lagomorphs, rodents, and their kin), based on molecular and morphological evidence, form a monophyletic clade nested within Euarchontoglires, a large clade including also primates, tree shrews (Scandentia), and flying lemurs (Dermoptera). The earliest currently known Glires are represented by duplicidentate lineage (closer to lagomorphs than to rodents), which appeared shortly after the K/Pg boundary in Asia. Evolution of Glires is interspersed with instances of convergence between its two main branches: Duplicidentata and Simplicidentata (rodents, eurymylids, and their relatives), and also convergences on basal Euarchontoglires (Pseudictopidae), Anagalidae, or even some ungulate lineages. Within more closely related basal lines, parallel evolution is frequent. Homoplastic characters manifest themselves mainly in the teeth and appendicular skeleton. An important example of convergent evolution within Glires (and broader within Euarchontoglires) is the structure of the tarsal joint, and the calcaneal morphology in particular. Lagomorphs, similar to ungulates and elephant shrews (and several fossil taxa), have two articulation facets at the eminence of the calcaneus. The calcaneoastragalar facet is typical of all mammals, while the calcaneofibular one is characteristic of all true lagomorphs and probably Mimotona, the earliest duplicidentate, but is absent in Gomphos and Mimolagus. Further, it is known in Rhombomylus, a Paleogene Asian eurymylid (basal simplicidentate), and in Paleocene Pseudictops, a basal Euarchontoglires. The calcaneofibular facet stabilizes the tarsal joint, thus contributing to increased cursoriality. Overall, this chapter focuses on convergence and parallelism observed in the dental and pedal characters of the early Glires, with emphasis on the duplicidentates.

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Acknowledgements

I am greatly indebted to Li Chuan-Kui, Ni Xijun, Wang Yuan-Qing, Li Qian (all Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology CAS, Beijing, China), and Jin Meng (AMNH, New York, USA) for providing access to the specimens in their care and helpful discussions. The present work was supported by the National Science Centre (Cracow, Poland) grant No. 2015/18/E/NZ8/00637. I acknowledge insightful review by an anonymous reviewer, which improved this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL 00-818, Warsaw, Poland

    Łucja Fostowicz-Frelik

  2. Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100044, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Łucja Fostowicz-Frelik

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  1. Łucja Fostowicz-Frelik
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Correspondence to Łucja Fostowicz-Frelik .

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  1. Laboratoire Evolution Biologique et Modélisation, CNRS, Université d’Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France

    Pierre Pontarotti

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Fostowicz-Frelik, Ł. (2017). Convergent and Parallel Evolution in Early Glires (Mammalia). In: Pontarotti, P. (eds) Evolutionary Biology: Self/Nonself Evolution, Species and Complex Traits Evolution, Methods and Concepts. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61569-1_11

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