Mesozoic origin for West Indian insectivores

Alfred L. Roca (), Gila Kahila Bar-Gal, Eduardo Eizirik, Kristofer M. Helgen, Roberto Maria, Mark S. Springer, Stephen J. O'Brien () and William J. Murphy ()
Additional contact information
Alfred L. Roca: Basic Research Program, SAIC-Frederick
Gila Kahila Bar-Gal: National Cancer Institute
Eduardo Eizirik: National Cancer Institute
Kristofer M. Helgen: University of , Adelaide
Roberto Maria: Parque Zoologico Nacional, ZOODOM
Mark S. Springer: University of California
Stephen J. O'Brien: National Cancer Institute
William J. Murphy: Basic Research Program, SAIC-Frederick

Nature, 2004, vol. 429, issue 6992, 649-651

Abstract: Abstract The highly endangered solenodons, endemic to Cuba (Solenodon cubanus) and Hispaniola (S. paradoxus), comprise the only two surviving species of West Indian insectivores1,2. Combined gene sequences (13.9 kilobases) from S. paradoxus established that solenodons diverged from other eulipotyphlan insectivores 76 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, which is consistent with vicariance, though also compatible with dispersal. A sequence of 1.6 kilobases of mitochondrial DNA from S. cubanus indicated a deep divergence of 25 million years versus the congeneric S. paradoxus, which is consistent with vicariant origins as tectonic forces separated Cuba and Hispaniola3,4. Efforts to prevent extinction of the two surviving solenodon species would conserve an entire lineage as old or older than many mammalian orders.

Date: 2004
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DOI: 10.1038/nature02597

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