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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Molecular identification of late and terminal Pleistocene Eq...
PloS one2019; 14(5); e0216883; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216883

Molecular identification of late and terminal Pleistocene Equus ovodovi from northeastern China.

Abstract: The extant diversity of horses (family Equidae) represents a small fraction of that occurring over their evolutionary history. One such lost lineage is the subgenus Sussemionus, which is thought to have become extinct during the Middle Pleistocene. However, recent molecular studies and morphological analysis have revealed that one of their representatives, E. ovodovi, did exist in Siberia during the Late Pleistocene. Fossil materials of E. ovodovi have thus far only been found in Russia. In this study, we extracted DNA from three equid fossil specimens excavated from northeastern China dated at 12,770-12,596, 29,525-28,887 and 40,201-38,848 cal. yBP, respectively, and retrieved three near-complete mitochondrial genomes from the specimens. Phylogenetic analyses cluster the Chinese haplotypes together with previously published Russian E. ovodovi, strongly supporting the assignment of these samples to this taxon. The molecular identification of E. ovodovi in northeastern China extends the known geographical range of this fossil species by several thousand kilometers to the east. The estimated coalescence time of all E. ovodovi haplotypes is approximately 199 Kya, with the Chinese haplotypes coalescing approximately 130 Kya. With a radiocarbon age of 12,770-12,596 cal. yBP, the youngest sample in this study represents the first E. ovodovi sample dating to the terminal Pleistocene, moving the extinction date of this species forwards considerably compared to previously documented fossils. Overall, comparison of our three mitochondrial genomes with the two published ones suggests a genetic diversity similar to several extant species of the genus Equus.
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Publication Date: 2019-05-16 PubMed ID: 31095634PubMed Central: PMC6522033DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216883Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research aimed to explore the existence of a subgenus of horses, Sussemionus, specifically, E. ovodovi, that was thought to have become extinct during the Middle Pleistocene. The study found evidence of this specific species in northeastern China, extending its previously-known geographical presence and presenting a later extinction date.

Research Method

  • The research team extracted DNA from three equid fossil specimens that were retrieved from northeastern China.
  • The fossils were all specimens of the horse subgenus Sussemionus, with the particular case of E. ovodovi being the focus.
  • These samples were dated between 12,770-12,596, 29,525-28,887, and 40,201-38,848 cal. yBP (calendar years Before Present).
  • From the extracted DNA, the researchers recovered near-complete mitochondrial genomes which were used for phylogenetic analyses.

Findings

  • The phylogenetic analyses grouped the Chinese haplotypes (variations of a species) with the previously known Russian E. ovodovi. This significantly supports the theory that the Chinese samples also belong to this species.
  • The existence of E. ovodovi in China not only expands its known geographical range by several thousand kilometers to the east but also pushes the extinction date of this species to a later period than previously documented based on the youngest of the samples found.
  • The estimated coalescence time (the point at which all present forms of a set of genes converge into a common ancestral form) for all E. ovodovi haplotypes was established to be around 199 thousand years ago (Kya). For the Chinese haplotypes, this was around 130 Kya.
  • The three mitochondrial genomes, when compared to the two previously published ones, suggest a genetic diversity similar to several extant species of the genus Equus – the horse.

Conclusion

  • This research crucially contributes to the understanding of the extinct subgenus of horses, specifically E. ovodovi, by confirming its existence in northeastern China as well as updating its extinction timeline.
  • Findings suggest that this extinct species of horse was more diverse and had a wider geographical reach than initially thought.
  • Overall, this study adds valuable insights into the evolution and diversity of Equidae and provides a deeper understanding of extinct horse species.

Cite This Article

APA
Yuan JX, Hou XD, Barlow A, Preick M, Taron UH, Alberti F, Basler N, Deng T, Lai XL, Hofreiter M, Sheng GL. (2019). Molecular identification of late and terminal Pleistocene Equus ovodovi from northeastern China. PLoS One, 14(5), e0216883. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216883

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 5
Pages: e0216883
PII: e0216883

Researcher Affiliations

Yuan, Jun-Xia
  • Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
  • State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
Hou, Xin-Dong
  • State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
Barlow, Axel
  • Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Preick, Michaela
  • Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Taron, Ulrike H
  • Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Alberti, Federica
  • Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Basler, Nikolas
  • Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Deng, Tao
  • Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, IVPP, Beijing, China.
Lai, Xu-Long
  • State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.
Hofreiter, Michael
  • Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Sheng, Gui-Lian
  • State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • DNA, Ancient
  • Equidae / classification
  • Equidae / genetics
  • Genome, Mitochondrial
  • Haplotypes
  • Phylogeny

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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