Publications scientifiques
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Publications scientifiques
Sean P. Heighton
Autres affiliations : Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Evolution et Diversité Biologique · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Rémi Allio
Autres affiliations : Université de Montpellier · Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Jérôme Murienne
Autres affiliations : Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Evolution et Diversité Biologique · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Jordi Salmona
Autres affiliations : Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Evolution et Diversité Biologique · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Céline Scornavacca
Autres affiliations : Université de Montpellier · Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Marie‐Ka Tilak
Autres affiliations : Université de Montpellier · Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Frédéric Delsuc
Autres affiliations : Université de Montpellier · Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
Philippe Gaubert
Autres affiliations : Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier · Universidade do Porto · Evolution et Diversité Biologique · Institut de Recherche pour le Développement · Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental
Hao Meng
Autres affiliations : Center for Life Sciences
Shu‐Jin Luo
Autres affiliations : Center for Life Sciences
Armanda D. S. Bastos
Darren W. Pietersen
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Pangolins form a group of scaly mammals that are trafficked at record numbers for their meat and purported medicinal properties. Despite their conservation concern, knowledge of their evolution is limited by a paucity of genomic data. We aim to produce exhaustive genomic resources that include 3,238 orthologous genes and whole-genome polymorphisms to assess the evolution of all eight extant pangolin species. Robust orthologous gene-based phylogenies recovered the monophyly of the three genera and highlighted the existence of an undescribed species closely related to Southeast Asian pangolins. Signatures of middle Miocene admixture between an extinct, possibly European, lineage and the ancestor of Southeast Asian pangolins, provide new insights into the early evolutionary history of the group. Demographic trajectories and genome-wide heterozygosity estimates revealed contrasts between continental versus island populations and species lineages, suggesting that conservation planning should consider intraspecific patterns. With the expected loss of genomic diversity from recent, extensive trafficking not yet realized in pangolins, we recommend that populations be genetically surveyed to anticipate any deleterious impact of the illegal trade. Finally, we produce a complete set of genomic resources that will be integral for future conservation management and forensic endeavors for pangolins, including tracing their illegal trade. These comprise the completion of whole-genomes for pangolins through the hybrid assembly of the first reference genome for the giant pangolin (Smutsia gigantea) and new draft genomes (∼43x-77x) for four additional species, as well as a database of orthologous genes with over 3.4 million polymorphic sites.