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Molecular exploration of fossil eggshell uncovers hidden lineage of giant extinct bird

Author

Listed:
  • Alicia Grealy

    (Curtin University
    The Australian National Herbarium, CSIRO)

  • Gifford H. Miller

    (University of Colorado)

  • Matthew J. Phillips

    (Queensland University of Technology)

  • Simon J. Clarke

    (Integrity Ag & Environment)

  • Marilyn Fogel

    (University of California Riverside)

  • Diana Patalwala

    (The University of Western Australia
    University of Western Australia)

  • Paul Rigby

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Alysia Hubbard

    (The University of Western Australia)

  • Beatrice Demarchi

    (University of Turin)

  • Matthew Collins

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Cambridge)

  • Meaghan Mackie

    (University of Copenhagen
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Jorune Sakalauskaite

    (University of Turin
    University of Copenhagen)

  • Josefin Stiller

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Julia A. Clarke

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Lucas J. Legendre

    (The University of Texas at Austin)

  • Kristina Douglass

    (Columbia University)

  • James Hansford

    (Zoological Society of London
    Northern Illinois University
    University College London)

  • James Haile

    (Oxford University)

  • Michael Bunce

    (Curtin University)

Abstract

The systematics of Madagascar’s extinct elephant birds remains controversial due to large gaps in the fossil record and poor biomolecular preservation of skeletal specimens. Here, a molecular analysis of 1000-year-old fossil eggshells provides the first description of elephant bird phylogeography and offers insight into the ecology and evolution of these flightless giants. Mitochondrial genomes from across Madagascar reveal genetic variation that is correlated with eggshell morphology, stable isotope composition, and geographic distribution. The elephant bird crown is dated to ca. 30 Mya, when Madagascar is estimated to have become less arid as it moved northward. High levels of between-clade genetic variation support reclassifying Mullerornis into a separate family. Low levels of within-clade genetic variation suggest there were only two elephant bird genera existing in southern Madagascar during the Holocene. However, we find an eggshell collection from Madagascar’s far north that represents a unique lineage of Aepyornis. Furthermore, divergence within Aepyornis coincides with the aridification of Madagascar during the early Pleistocene ca. 1.5 Ma, and is consistent with the fragmentation of populations in the highlands driving diversification and the evolution of extreme gigantism over shorts timescales. We advocate for a revision of their taxonomy that integrates palaeogenomic and palaeoecological perspectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Alicia Grealy & Gifford H. Miller & Matthew J. Phillips & Simon J. Clarke & Marilyn Fogel & Diana Patalwala & Paul Rigby & Alysia Hubbard & Beatrice Demarchi & Matthew Collins & Meaghan Mackie & Jorun, 2023. "Molecular exploration of fossil eggshell uncovers hidden lineage of giant extinct bird," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36405-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36405-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johannes Krause & Qiaomei Fu & Jeffrey M. Good & Bence Viola & Michael V. Shunkov & Anatoli P. Derevianko & Svante Pääbo, 2010. "The complete mitochondrial DNA genome of an unknown hominin from southern Siberia," Nature, Nature, vol. 464(7290), pages 894-897, April.
    2. L. Huynen & C. D. Millar & R. P. Scofield & D. M. Lambert, 2003. "Nuclear DNA sequences detect species limits in ancient moa," Nature, Nature, vol. 425(6954), pages 175-178, September.
    3. Michael Bunce & Trevor H. Worthy & Tom Ford & Will Hoppitt & Eske Willerslev & Alexei Drummond & Alan Cooper, 2003. "Extreme reversed sexual size dimorphism in the extinct New Zealand moa Dinornis," Nature, Nature, vol. 425(6954), pages 172-175, September.
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