Evolutionary and phylogenetic insights from a nuclear genome sequence of the extinct, giant, "subfossil" koala lemur Megaladapis edwardsi

Abstract

Based on “subfossil” skeletal remains it is known that multiple now-extinct giant lemur (primate) species with estimated body masses of up to ∼160 kg survived on Madagascar into the past millennium. In this study, we used ancient DNA methods to sequence the nuclear genome of one of these megafaunal lemurs, Megaladapis edwardsi (∼85 kg). With the power of the nuclear genome, we robustly resolved the phylogenetic relationship between Megaladapis and other lemurs, which had been a lingering uncertainty. We also identified multiple signatures of past positive natural selection across the M. edwardsi genome that support reconstructions of this taxon as a large-bodied, specialized folivore. Keywords: paleogenomics, megafaunal extinction, phylogenomics, convergent evolution, dietary reconstruction