title: Independent reversals to terrestriality in squirrels (Rodentia: Sciuridae) support ecologically mediated modes of adaptation.
abstract: The family Sciuridae is one of the most widespread and ecologically diverse lineages of rodents and represents an ideal model for investigating the evolution of locomotion modes and the historical biogeography of terrestrial mammals. We used a comprehensive database on locomotion modes, an updated phylogeny and novel biogeographic comparative methods to reassess the evolution of locomotion of squirrels and to investigate whether these locomotion modes evolved convergently in different continents. We found that locomotion changes occurred in different independent lineages of the family, including four reversals to terrestriality and one evolution of gliding. We also found evidence for Eurasia as the centre of origin of Sciuridae, challenging the classification of the oldest squirrel fossil records from the early Oligocene in North America. Additionally, Eurasia is also the possible centre of origin for most of squirrel subfamilies and tribes, and where locomotion changes have occurred. Parallel locomotion shifts could be explained by the adaptation towards different ecological niches followed by colonization of new continents.
authors: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors: R G
authors: 0000-0002-4410-3648
authors: RG
authors: Rocha
authors: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors: Y L R
authors: YL
authors: Leite
authors: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espirito Santo, Brazil.
authors: L P
authors: LP
authors: Costa
authors: Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal.|Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Rojas
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D008124:Locomotion; D009656:North America; D010802:Phylogeny; D012453:Saimiri; D012589:Sciuridae
keywords: ancestral range estimation; continental colonization; locomotion; macroevolution; speciation