Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe
Taxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of known taxa. A...
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MDPI AG
2023-04-01
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| author | Adam Nadachowski Anna Lemanik Laure Fontana Danijela Popović Michał Golubiński Barbara Bujalska Mateusz Baca |
| author_facet | Adam Nadachowski Anna Lemanik Laure Fontana Danijela Popović Michał Golubiński Barbara Bujalska Mateusz Baca |
| author_sort | Adam Nadachowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Taxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of known taxa. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of the Late Pleistocene specimens from the archaeological site Petits Guinards (Creuzier-la-Vieux, Allier, France), described as a new vole <i>Microtus</i> (<i>Sumeriomys</i>) <i>bifrons</i>, did not confirm the species distinctness of the studied population. The genetically examined specimens belonged to <i>Stenocranius anglicus</i> and/or <i>Microtus arvalis</i>, the dominant species at the site. Our findings show that it is risky to describe new fossil taxa on the basis of phenotypic outliers or morphologically aberrant, rare specimens that do not fall within the previously known population variability. We also highlight the importance of ancient DNA in resolving taxonomic and nomenclature problems and classifying fossil mammals of the Late Pleistocene age. |
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| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:06:38Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-fe3102fa0e084faf968aee3e1c5b933d2023-11-17T18:57:03ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182023-04-0115453810.3390/d15040538Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western EuropeAdam Nadachowski0Anna Lemanik1Laure Fontana2Danijela Popović3Michał Golubiński4Barbara Bujalska5Mateusz Baca6Institute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, PolandInstitute of Systematics and Evolution of Animals, Polish Academy of Sciences, Sławkowska 17, 31-016 Kraków, PolandCNRS, UMR 7401 ArScAn, Archéologies Environnementales, Maison de l’Archéologie et de l’Ethnologie R. Ginouvès, 21 Allée de l’Université, FR-92023 Nanterre CEDEX, FranceCentre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warszawa, PolandCentre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warszawa, PolandCentre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warszawa, PolandCentre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, S. Banacha 2c, 02-097 Warszawa, PolandTaxonomic decisions made by palaeontologists are often based on a few morphological features preserved in the fossil material. This practice may sometimes lead to the description of new species based on single specimens, which are, in fact, extreme or aberrant morphological variants of known taxa. Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis of the Late Pleistocene specimens from the archaeological site Petits Guinards (Creuzier-la-Vieux, Allier, France), described as a new vole <i>Microtus</i> (<i>Sumeriomys</i>) <i>bifrons</i>, did not confirm the species distinctness of the studied population. The genetically examined specimens belonged to <i>Stenocranius anglicus</i> and/or <i>Microtus arvalis</i>, the dominant species at the site. Our findings show that it is risky to describe new fossil taxa on the basis of phenotypic outliers or morphologically aberrant, rare specimens that do not fall within the previously known population variability. We also highlight the importance of ancient DNA in resolving taxonomic and nomenclature problems and classifying fossil mammals of the Late Pleistocene age.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/4/538arvicolinestaxonomy and systematicsdental morphologyancient DNA<i>Cytb</i>last glacial period |
| spellingShingle | Adam Nadachowski Anna Lemanik Laure Fontana Danijela Popović Michał Golubiński Barbara Bujalska Mateusz Baca Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe Diversity arvicolines taxonomy and systematics dental morphology ancient DNA <i>Cytb</i> last glacial period |
| title | Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe |
| title_full | Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe |
| title_fullStr | Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe |
| title_short | Ancient DNA Contradicts the Presence of Social Voles (Genus <i>Microtus,</i> Subgenus <i>Sumeriomys</i>) in the Late Pleistocene of Western Europe |
| title_sort | ancient dna contradicts the presence of social voles genus i microtus i subgenus i sumeriomys i in the late pleistocene of western europe |
| topic | arvicolines taxonomy and systematics dental morphology ancient DNA <i>Cytb</i> last glacial period |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/4/538 |
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