Phylogeny, divergence times and historical biogeography of Xenarthra (Mammalia, Eutheria): combining morphological and molecular data

• Grant number: 22/00044-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Max Cardoso Langer
• Grantee: Daniel de Melo Casali
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/07997-4 - Dinosaur diversity and associated faunas in the Cretaceous of South America, AP.TEM

Abstract

Xenarthra is a group of placental mammals with broad temporal and geographic ranges, composed of two major clades - Pilosa (Sloths and Anteaters) and Cingulata (Armadillos, Glyptodonts, and Pampatheres). Historically, the phylogeny of Xenartra has been mostly studied using morphological data, but molecular evidence has taken an important role in recent years, including the sampling of extinct taxa. Phylogenetic inferences based on each of these types of data proved to be conflicting, especially for Sloths and Cingulates, and combined phylogenetic analyzes have been poorly explored. Despite the availability of recent molecular phylogenies for most current (and some extinct) species of Xenarthra, the last morphological phylogenetic study that included a broad sample of both Cingulata and Pilosa was conducted over three decades ago. New taxonomic revisions, recent discoveries of new fossil taxa, and advances in phylogenetic methodologies, rendered that study outdated. This work aims to jointly analyze morphological and molecular data of a broad sample of Xenarthrans, estimating the phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and biogeographic dynamics of the group in an integrative approach, using diversified and cutting-edge methodologies. Our main objective is to better understand Xenarthran evolution, as well as the conflicts between different types of data. (AU)

Scientific publications

(8)

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

FERREIRA, THAIS MATOS PEREIRA; CASALI, DANIEL DE MELO; DAS NEVES, SIMONE BAES; RIBEIRO, ANA MARIA. Osteoderm morphology and taxonomy of Pampatheriidae (Cingulata, Xenarthra) from the Quaternary of the Neotropical region. HISTORICAL BIOLOGY, v. N/A, p. 19-pg., 2025-01-08. (22/00044-7)

CASALI, DANIEL M.; BOSCAINI, ALBERTO; GAUDIN, TIMOTHY J.; PERINI, FERNANDO A.. Morphological disparity and evolutionary rates of cranial and postcranial characters in sloths (Mammalia, Pilosa, Folivora). Palaeontology, v. 66, n. 1, p. 19-pg., 2023-01-01. (22/00044-7)

MISSAGIA, RAFAELA V.; CASALI, DANIEL M.; PATTERSON, BRUCE D.; PERINI, FERNANDO A.. Decoupled Patterns of Diversity and Disparity Characterize an Ecologically Specialized Lineage of Neotropical Cricetids. Evolutionary Biology, v. N/A, p. 16-pg., 2023-01-19. (22/00044-7)

BOSCAINI, ALBERTO; CASALI, DANIEL M.; TOLEDO, NESTOR; CANTALAPIEDRA, JUAN L.; BARGO, M. SUSANA; DE IULIIS, GERARDO; GAUDIN, TIMOTHY J.; LANGER, MAX C.; NARDUCCI, RACHEL; PUJOS, FRANCOIS; et al. The emergence and demise of giant sloths. Science, v. 388, n. 6749, p. 5-pg., 2025-05-22. (22/00044-7)

CASALI, DANIEL M.; YOSHIKAWA, MARIAH M.; GUILHON, GABBY; PERINI, FERNANDO A.; MISSAGIA, RAFAELA, V. Body size and litter size as predictors of pouch presence in marsupials. Evolution, v. N/A, p. 11-pg., 2025-11-14. (22/00044-7)

PASIN, LUCAS C.; CASALI, DANIEL M.; SEMEDO, THIAGO B. F.; GARBINO, GUILHERME S. T.. Harpy eagle kill sample provides insights into the mandibular ontogenetic patterns of two-toed sloths (Xenarthra: Choloepus). MAMMALIA, v. 88, n. 5, p. 7-pg., 2024-05-22. (22/00044-7)

PIEROSSI, FELIPE FERREIRA; DELCOURT, RAFAEL; CASALI, DANIEL DE MELO; LEME, JOAO ALBERTO; DE OLIVEIRA MARTINS, NEURIDES; MANZIG, PAULO; LANGER, MAX CARDOSO. Convergent evolution among non-carnivorous, desert-dwelling theropods as revealed by the dentary of the noasaurid Berthasaura leopoldinae (Cretaceous of Brazil). Palaeontology, v. 68, n. 4, p. 18-pg., 2025-07-01. (21/12231-3, 23/06692-3, 20/07997-4, 22/00044-7)

MARQUES, NUBIA; SOARES, CARLA DANIELLE DE MELO; CASALI, DANIEL DE MELO; GUIMARAES, ERICK CRISTOFORE; FAVA, FERNANDA GUIMARAES; ABREU, JOAO MARCELO DA SILVA; MORAS, LIGIANE MARTINS; DA SILVA, LETICIA GOMES; MATIAS, RAPHAEL; DE ASSIS, RAFAEL LEANDRO; et al. Retrieving biodiversity data from multiple sources: making secondary data standardised and accessible. BIODIVERSITY DATA JOURNAL, v. 12, p. 18-pg., 2024-09-20. (22/00044-7)