Sealing the fate of a historical taxonomy.

• Autores: Olaf R.P. Bininda-Emonds
• Localización: Trends in ecology and evolution, ISSN 0169-5347, Vol. 17, Nº 3, 2002, pág. 109
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The phylogenetic relationships of the eared seals (family Otariidae) seemed to be a relatively straightforward affair historically. Traditionally, the family has been subdivided into two subfamilies – fur seals (genera Arctocephalus and Callorhinus) and sea lions (genera Eumetopias, Neophoca, Otaria, Phocarctos and Zalophus) – largely based on the presence of a thick coat of underfur in the former group. True, relationships within Arctocephalus, the only genus to contain more than one extant species, were largely unresolved, but this was due mostly to a lack of research effort. Then, in the early 1970s, the first blow to this traditional arrangement was dealt when it was voiced that perhaps the subfamily of fur seals was not monophyletic (i.e. lacked an exclusive common ancestor). However, strong evidence for or against this claim has largely been lacking.