Molecular Phylogenetics of New World Emballonurid Bats

South America was an insular continent for most of
the Tertiary, but it has the highest species
diversity for many organismal groups. Since early
explorations, biologists have been asking why South
America has high biodiversity and how organisms got
there during long periods of isolation. I address
these questions of evolution using sheath-tailed bats
(family Emballonuridae) as a study group. A molecular
phylogeny was produced based on a phylogenetic
analysis of DNA sequences from unlinked loci from the
4 components of genetic transmission found in
mammals. Optimization of areas suggests that the
ancestor of New World emballonurids had its origin in
Africa. Divergence times were estimated with a
relaxed clock approach and primary diversification in
South America occurred during the Miocene. A study of
historical biogeography indicated that the ancestral
area was the Northern Amazon. Character mapping
indicated a correlation of ear morphology with
echolocation call design and foraging behaviour,
which suggests a phylogenetic basis to the evolution
of these character systems. These results will be of
interest to biologists researching systematic
biology, evolution, and biogeography.