A Mitogenomic Perspective on the Ancient, Rapid Radiation in the Galliformes with an Emphasis on the Phasianidae

Overview

Journal BMC Evol Biol

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Biology

Date 2010 May 7

PMID 20444289

Citations 25

Authors

Yong-Yi Shen

Lu Liang

Yan-Bo Sun

Bi-Song Yue

Xiao-Jun Yang

Robert W Murphy

Ya-Ping Zhang

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The Galliformes is a well-known and widely distributed Order in Aves. The phylogenetic relationships of galliform birds, especially the turkeys, grouse, chickens, quails, and pheasants, have been studied intensively, likely because of their close association with humans. Despite extensive studies, convergent morphological evolution and rapid radiation have resulted in conflicting hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships. Many internal nodes have remained ambiguous.

Results: We analyzed the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes from 34 galliform species, including 14 new mt genomes and 20 published mt genomes, and obtained a single, robust tree. Most of the internal branches were relatively short and the terminal branches long suggesting an ancient, rapid radiation. The Megapodiidae formed the sister group to all other galliforms, followed in sequence by the Cracidae, Odontophoridae and Numididae. The remaining clade included the Phasianidae, Tetraonidae and Meleagrididae. The genus Arborophila was the sister group of the remaining taxa followed by Polyplectron. This was followed by two major clades: ((((Gallus, Bambusicola) Francolinus) (Coturnix, Alectoris)) Pavo) and (((((((Chrysolophus, Phasianus) Lophura) Syrmaticus) Perdix) Pucrasia) (Meleagris, Bonasa)) ((Lophophorus, Tetraophasis) Tragopan))).

Conclusions: The traditional hypothesis of monophyletic lineages of pheasants, partridges, peafowls and tragopans was not supported in this study. Mitogenomic analyses recovered robust phylogenetic relationships and suggested that the Galliformes formed a model group for the study of morphological and behavioral evolution.

Citing Articles

Characterization of the Complete Mitogenome of the Ring-Necked Pheasant (Galliformes: Phasianidae) and Systematic Implications for Phasianinae Phylogenetics.

Mei Q, Deng Y, Zhao D, Jiang D, Liao Y, Yu X Genes (Basel). 2025; 15(12.

PMID: 39766836 PMC: 11675856. DOI: 10.3390/genes15121569.

Description of the mitochondrial genomes of Sichuan Tetrastes sewerzowi (Galliformes: Tetraonidae) and phylogenetic relationship.

Luo X, Zhou H, Li A, Huang Z, Zhang W, Du S Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):26788.

PMID: 39500940 PMC: 11538510. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77604-2.

Mitogenomic Insights into the Evolution, Divergence Time, and Ancestral Ranges of Quails.

Dey P, Ray S, Kochiganti V, Pukazhenthi B, Koepfli K, Singh R Genes (Basel). 2024; 15(6).

PMID: 38927678 PMC: 11202683. DOI: 10.3390/genes15060742.

Development and Application of Potentially Universal Microsatellite Markers for Pheasant Species.

Xie D, Yang N, Xu W, Jiang X, Luo L, Hou Y Animals (Basel). 2023; 13(23).

PMID: 38066952 PMC: 10705216. DOI: 10.3390/ani13233601.

The draft genome of the Temminck's tragopan (Tragopan temminckii) with evolutionary implications.

Li X, Wang X, Yu X, Yang C, Lin L, Huang Y BMC Genomics. 2023; 24(1):751.

PMID: 38062370 PMC: 10702090. DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09857-6.

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