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Ancient DNA in Subfossil Lemurs

Methodological Challenges and Their Solutions

  • Chapter
New Directions in Lemur Studies

Abstract

We present preliminary results from an ongoing study of ancient DNA in Madagascar’s subfossil lemurs. These animals, though extinct, are the evolutionary contemporaries of the living lemurs. Any phylogenetic study that focuses only on the extant Malagasy primates is therefore incomplete. Here, we present a cytochrome b phylogeny that includes sequences for Palaeopropithecus and Megaladapis. We also discuss the various methodological challenges that we have faced in acquiring these sequences along with our solutions for overcoming them. In addition to serving as a report of primary data, we hope that this contribution will serve as a guide for other projects facing similar challenges. Our analyses suggest that Palaeopropithecus is sister to the living indrids, as predicted by morphological studies. Contrary to morphological data, however, Megaladapis appears to belong to an independent lemuriform lineage rather than form a clade with Lepilemur. Our results are subject to further testing as longer sequences and additional subfossil taxa are added to the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Medical School, 303 East Chicago Ave., Ward Building, 60611-3008, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Anne D. Yoder

  2. Department of Zoology, Field Museum of Natural History, Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60605, USA

    Anne D. Yoder

  3. Département de Paléontologie et d’Anthropologie Biologique, Faculté des Sciences, Université d’Antananarivo, BP 906, Antananarivo (101), Madagascar

    Berthe Rakotosamimanana

  4. Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rockville, Maryland, USA

    Thomas J. Parsons

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  1. Anne D. Yoder
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  2. Berthe Rakotosamimanana
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  3. Thomas J. Parsons
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Correspondence to Anne D. Yoder .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Antananarivo University, Antananarivo, Madagascar

    Berthe Rakotosamimanana  & Hanta Rasamimanana  & 

  2. University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Jörg U. Ganzhorn

  3. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, Illinois, USA

    Steven M. Goodman

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Yoder, A.D., Rakotosamimanana, B., Parsons, T.J. (1999). Ancient DNA in Subfossil Lemurs. In: Rakotosamimanana, B., Rasamimanana, H., Ganzhorn, J.U., Goodman, S.M. (eds) New Directions in Lemur Studies. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-4705-1_1

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