Molecular Phylogeny of Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae) as Inferred from γ-Globin DNA Sequences

✍ Scribed by Scott L. Page; Chi-hua Chiu; Morris Goodman

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 138 KB
• Volume: 13
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1055-7903
• DOI: 10.1006/mpev.1999.0653

✦ Synopsis

DNA sequence data of the nuclear-encoded ␥ 1 -␥ 2globin duplication region were used to examine the phylogenetic relationships of 16 cercopithecid (Old World monkey) species representing 12 extant genera. Morphology-and molecular-based hypotheses of Old World monkey branching patterns are generally congruent, except for generic relationships within the subtribe Papionina. The cercopithecids divide into colobines (leaf-eating monkeys) and cercopithecines (cheek-pouched monkeys). The colobines examined by the DNA data divide into an Asian clade (Nasalis, proboscis monkeys; Trachypithecus, langurs) and an African clade (Colobus, colobus monkeys). The cercopithecines divide into tribes Cercopithecini (Erythrocebus, patas monkey; Chlorocebus, green monkeys; Cercopithecus, guenons) and Papionini. Papionins divide into subtribes Macacina (Macaca, macaques) and Papionina (Papio, hamadryas baboons; Mandrillus, drills and mandrills; Theropithecus, gelada baboons; Lophocebus, arboreal mangabeys; Cercocebus, terrestrial mangabeys). In a morphologically based classification, Mandrillus is a subgenus of Papio, whereas Lophocebus is a subgenus of Cercocebus. In contrast, the molecular evidence treats Mandrillus as a subgenus of Cercocebus, and treats both Theropithecus and Lophocebus as subgenera of Papio. Local molecular clock divergence time estimates were used as a yardstick in a ''rank equals age'' system to propose a reduction in taxonomic rank for most clades within Cercopithecidae. 1999 Academic Press