The Late Pleistocene distribution of vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and the "extinction" of the gracile llama ("Lama gracilis"): New molecular data
Weinstock, Jaco, Shapiro, Beth, Prieto, Alfredo, Marin, Juan Carlos, Gonzalez, Benito A., Gilbert, M. Thomas P. and Willerslev, Eske (2009) The Late Pleistocene distribution of vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) and the "extinction" of the gracile llama ("Lama gracilis"): New molecular data. Quaternary Science Reviews, 28, 1369-1373. (doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.03.008).
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Description/Abstract
We present the results of a palaeogenetic analysis of two Late Pleistocene camelids originating in southern Chile. Our analysis of two mitochondrial DNA fragments (control region and cytochrome b gene) reveals that these specimens do not belong to an extinct taxon, but rather to extant vicuña (Vicugna vicugna), whose modern distribution is restricted to the extreme elevations of the Andes, more than 3500 km to the north of where these specimens originated. Our results also suggest fossil specimens from Patagonia that are currently assigned to the extinct taxon Lama gracilis, may actually belong to V. vicugna, implying a continuous distribution of the latter from the southern tip of South America to the Andes during the Final Pleistocene. The haplotypes of both specimens are not present in modern populations, suggesting a loss of genetic diversity concomitant with the contraction of the vicuña geographical distribution during the Final Pleistocene or early Holocene.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Rapid Communication. |
| ISSNs: | 0277-3791 (print) |
| Related URLs: | |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology Q Science > QE Geology Q Science > QL Zoology G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QH Natural history > QH426 Genetics |
| Divisions: | University Structure - Pre August 2011 > School of Humanities > Archaeology |
| Item ID: | 79963 |
| Date Deposited: | 23 Mar 2010 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Apr 2013 21:51 |
| Contributors: | Weinstock, Jaco (Author) Shapiro, Beth (Author) Prieto, Alfredo (Author) Marin, Juan Carlos (Author) Gonzalez, Benito A. (Author) Gilbert, M. Thomas P. (Author) Willerslev, Eske (Author) |
| Date: | 2009 |
| Additional Information: | Rapid Communication. |
| Status: | Published |
| Contact Email Address: | jw20@soton.ac.uk |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/79963 |
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