Work

Analyses of mitochondrial genomes strongly support a hippopotamus-whale clade

Year: 1998

Type: article

Abstract: Although the sister-group relationship between Cetacea and Artiodactyla is widely accepted, the actual artiodactyl group which is closest to Cetacea has not been conclusively identified. In the present study, we have sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of the hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius, and included it in phylogenetic analyses together with 15 other placental mammals. These analyses separated the hippopotamus from the other suiform included, the pig, and identified the hippopotamus as the artiodactyl sister group of the cetaceans, thereby making both. Artiodactyla and the suborder. Suiformes paraphyletic. The divergence between the hippopotamid and cetacean lineages was calculated using this molecular data and was estimated at ca. 54 Ma BP.

Source: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1998.0567

Authors: Björn M. Ursing, Ulfur Arnason

Institution: Lund University

Language: English

Topic: Evolution and Paleontology Studies

Subfield: Paleontology

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: European Commission, University of Cape Town

OpenAlex ID: W2018354418

FWCI: 9.5

Cites: 44

Cited by: 115

Related to: 10