Browsing by Author "Robinson, T. J."

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    Chromosome painting among Proboscidea, Hyracoidea and Sirenia : support for Paenungulata (Afrotheria, Mammalia) but not Tethytheria
    (2007-05) Pardini, A. T.; O Brien, P. C. M.; Fu, B.; Bonde, R. K.; Elder, F. F. B.; Ferguson-Smith, M. A.; Yang, F.; Robinson, T. J.
    Despite marked improvements in the interpretation of systematic relationships within Eutheria, particular nodes, including Paenungulata (Hyracoidea, Sirenia and Proboscidea), remain ambiguous. The combination of a rapid radiation, a deep divergence and an extensive morphological diversification has resulted in a limited phylogenetic signal confounding resolution within this clade both at the morphological and nucleotide levels. Cross-species chromosome painting was used to delineate regions of homology between Loxodonta africana (2n = 56), Procavia capensis (2n=54), Trichechus manatus latirostris (2n = 48) and an outgroup taxon, the aardvark (Orycteropus afer, 2n = 20). Changes specific to each lineage were identified and although the presence of a minimum of 11 synapomorphies confirmed the monophyly of Paenungulata, no change characterizing intrapaenungulate relationships was evident. The reconstruction of an ancestral paenungulate karyotype and the estimation of rates of chromosomal evolution indicate a reduced rate of genomic repatterning following the paenungulate radiation. In comparison to data available for other mammalian taxa, the paenungulate rate of chromosomal evolution is slow to moderate. As a consequence, the absence of a chromosomal character uniting two paenungulates (at the level of resolution characterized in this study) may be due to a reduced rate of chromosomal change relative to the length of time separating successive divergence events. © 2007 The Royal Society.
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    A revised systematic checklist of the extant mammals of the southern African subregion
    ( Durban Natural Sciences Museum, 2003) Bronner, G. N.; Hoffmann, M.; Taylor, P. J.; Chimimba, C. T.; Best, P. B.; Matthee, C. A.; Robinson, T. J.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The current paper presents a revised, annotated, systematic checklist of 351 extant mammal species, in 190 genera, currently known to occur in southern Africa (south of the Zambezi and Cunene Rivers) and its coastal waters. The checklist includes each species' scientific and English common name, details concerning original description, occurrence or possible occurrence in each o f the seven countries falling within the Subregion, and, where relevant, the IUCN global Category of Threat. Taxonomic notes, together with the relevant literature, are provided to justify the proposed classification adopted at each hierarchical level. The new classification we present is founded on the philosophy of phylogenetic systematics, and represents not only a summary o f new information, but also tremendous advances in the methods and philosophy of mammalian systematics during the past two decades.