Journal Article
Comparable ages for the independent origins of electrogenesis in African and South American weakly electric fishes
Lavoue, S., Miya, M., Arnegard, M.E., Sullivan, J.P., Hopkins, C.D. and Nishida, M.
Record Number:
5535
Year:
2012
Journal:
PLoS ONE
Pages:
1-18
Volume:
7(5): e36287
Abstract:
One of the most remarkable examples of convergent evolution among vertebrates is illustrated by the independent origins
of an active electric sense in South American and African weakly electric fishes, the Gymnotiformes and Mormyroidea,
respectively. These groups independently evolved similar complex systems for object localization and communication via
the generation and reception of weak electric fields. While good estimates of divergence times are critical to understanding
the temporal context for the evolution and diversification of these two groups, their respective ages have been difficult to
estimate due to the absence of an informative fossil record, use of strict molecular clock models in previous studies, and/or
incomplete taxonomic sampling. Here, we examine the timing of the origins of the Gymnotiformes and the Mormyroidea
using complete mitogenome sequences and a parametric Bayesian method for divergence time reconstruction. Under two
different fossil-based calibration methods, we estimated similar ages for the independent origins of the Mormyroidea and
Gymnotiformes. Our absolute estimates for the origins of these groups either slightly postdate, or just predate, the final
separation of Africa and South America by continental drift. The most recent common ancestor of the Mormyroidea and
Gymnotiformes was found to be a non-electrogenic basal teleost living more than 85 millions years earlier. For both electric
fish lineages, we also estimated similar intervals (16–19 or 22–26 million years, depending on calibration method) between
the appearance of electroreception and the origin of myogenic electric organs, providing rough upper estimates for the
time periods during which these complex electric organs evolved de novo from skeletal muscle precursors. The fact that the
Gymnotiformes and Mormyroidea are of similar age enhances the comparative value of the weakly electric fish system for
investigating pathways to evolutionary novelty, as well as the influences of key innovations in communication on the
process of species radiation.
Times Cited:
1
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