title: Evolution of Sousa chinensis: a scenario based on mitochondrial DNA study.
abstract: Taxonomy within genus Sousa is confused largely due to inconsistencies among external morphology, skull morphology, pigmentation patterns and molecular studies. Here we provide our understanding of the evolution of Sousa chinensis by proposing a phylogeographic history based on mtDNA study. It is proposed that the species originated in eastern Australian waters and the current distribution has taken shape over the last 8.02-1.24 million years. Populations in Southeast Asia and Australian region experienced recent expansion about 0.54-1.5 million years ago. It is also proposed that populations in Southeast Asia experienced separation, re-unification and further dispersal during the last glacial age with multiple north-south migration across the Sahul Shelf area of northern Australia.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, School of Marine Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenzhi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ruilian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Jialin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001210:Asia, Southeastern; D001315:Australia; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004289:Dolphins / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D005828:Genetics, Population / Q000379:methods; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial