Molecular Phylogenetics of Eulipotyphla Mammals
Summary
The order Eulipotyphla, encompassing shrews, moles, hedgehogs and solenodons, presents one of the most rapid and convergent radiations among mammals. Traditional morphology-based classifications have been confounded by homoplasies arising from repeated adaptations to burrowing, aquatic and fossorial lifestyles. Molecular phylogenetics has transformed our understanding by integrating mitochondrial, nuclear and increasingly genomic data. Multi-locus and coalescent-based approaches now resolve deep branches and refine species boundaries, revealing cryptic lineages and prompting taxonomic revisions. Divergence time estimates calibrated against fossil records elucidate the impact of palaeoclimatic events—such as Himalayan uplift and Pleistocene glaciations—on speciation and biogeographic dispersal. Protein-level phylogenetics, for example via myoglobin primary sequence analyses, has illuminated convergent transitions to semi-aquatic ecologies. Together, these methods offer a robust framework for reconstructing the evolutionary history of Eulipotyphla, underpinning conservation strategies by identifying evolutionary significant units across global habitats.
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Molecular Phylogenetics of Eulipotyphla Mammals publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in molecular phylogenetics of eulipotyphla mammals across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Mitochondrial DNA: Genetic material inherited maternally, often used for resolving recent phylogenetic relationships due to its high mutation rate.
Nuclear genes: Genes located within the cell nucleus, providing complementary phylogenetic signal with slower evolutionary rates and reduced homoplasy.
Multi-locus phylogeny: Reconstruction of evolutionary relationships using multiple independent genetic markers to improve resolution and robustness.
Coalescent analysis: A model-based approach that infers species trees by accounting for gene-tree discordance due to ancestral polymorphism.
Divergence time estimation: Calculation of lineage splitting dates by calibrating molecular clocks with fossil or geological evidence.
Cryptic diversity: Hidden species-level diversity unrecognised by morphology but revealed through genetic data.
References
- Myoglobin primary structure reveals multiple convergent transitions to semi-aquatic life in the world's smallest mammalian divers. eLife (2021).
- Multilocus phylogeny and cryptic diversity of white-toothed shrews (Mammalia, Eulipotyphla, Crocidura) in China. BMC Ecology and Evolution (2020).
- A new genus of Asiatic short-tailed shrew (Soricidae, Eulipotyphla) based on molecular and morphological comparisons. 动物学研究 (2018).
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