Eupleridae
Encyclopedia
The family Eupleridae is a group of carnivorans endemic to Madagascar
and comprising 10 known species
in seven genera
. Probably the best known species is the Fossa
(Cryptoprocta ferox), in the subfamily Euplerinae
. All species of Euplerinae were formerly classified as viverrids, while all species in the subfamily Galidiinae
were classified as herpestids.
Recent molecular studies indicate that the eight living species of Madagascar carnivorans evolved from one ancestor that is thought to have rafted over
from mainland Africa 18-24 million years ago. This makes Malagasy carnivorans a clade
. They are closely allied with the true herpestid mongooses, their closest living relatives. The Fossa and the Malagasy Civet (Fossa fossana) are believed to be the most ancient surviving species within this group.
All Eupleridae are considered threatened species due to habitat destruction, as well as predation and competition from non-native species.
family Hyaenidae is a sister taxon of the euplerid and herpestid clade, and when grouped together with the viverrids and felids as well as some smaller groups forms the feliform
(cat-like carnivores) clade.
The evolutionary divergence between the herpestids and the euplerids dates back to the Oligocene
, at a time feliforms shared many similarities, particularly between the cats and the viverrids. Palaeoprionodon (within superfamily Aeluroidea
), found in Europe and Asia from the late Eocene
or early Oligocene, looked similar to the modern Fossa, while Proailurus
, an extinct form of cat, exhibited many viverrid-like characteristics. Despite these similarities in the fossil record, the modern Malagasy carnivores are distinctly different, with subfamily Euplerinae
and the subfamily Galidiinae
bearing similarities with civets and mongooses respectively. Euplerinae (including the Fossa, Falanouc, and Malagasy Civet) has auditory regions
similar to those of viverrids, while Galidiinae has auditory regions similar to those of herpestids. Based on this trait, Robert M. Hunt Jr. proposed in 1996 that Madagascar was colonized twice, once by viverrids and once by herpestids. The genetic studies by Yoder and colleagues in 2003 suggested a single colonization event by a primitive herpestid ancestor, followed quickly by adaptive radiation
. The common ancestor arrived from Africa, probably by rafting
, during the late Oligocene or early Miocene (24–18 mya), though Philippe Gaubert and Veron estimated a divergence date of 19.4 mya (16.5–22.7 mya).
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
and comprising 10 known species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
in seven genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
. Probably the best known species is the Fossa
Fossa (animal)
The fossa is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family . Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a...
(Cryptoprocta ferox), in the subfamily Euplerinae
Euplerinae
Euplerinae is a subfamily of carnivorans that includes three species restricted to Madagascar. Together with the subfamily Galidiinae, which also occurs on Madagascar only, it forms the family Eupleridae...
. All species of Euplerinae were formerly classified as viverrids, while all species in the subfamily Galidiinae
Galidiinae
Galidiinae is a subfamily of carnivorans restricted to Madagascar which includes six species classified into four genera. Together with the three other species of indigenous Malagasy carnivorans, including the fossa, they are currently classified in the family Eupleridae within the suborder...
were classified as herpestids.
Recent molecular studies indicate that the eight living species of Madagascar carnivorans evolved from one ancestor that is thought to have rafted over
Rafting event
Oceanic dispersal is a type of biological dispersal that occurs when organisms transfer from one land mass to another by way of a sea crossing on large clumps of floating vegetation. Such matted clumps of vegetation are often seen floating down major rivers in the tropics and washing out to sea,...
from mainland Africa 18-24 million years ago. This makes Malagasy carnivorans a clade
Clade
A clade is a group consisting of a species and all its descendants. In the terms of biological systematics, a clade is a single "branch" on the "tree of life". The idea that such a "natural group" of organisms should be grouped together and given a taxonomic name is central to biological...
. They are closely allied with the true herpestid mongooses, their closest living relatives. The Fossa and the Malagasy Civet (Fossa fossana) are believed to be the most ancient surviving species within this group.
All Eupleridae are considered threatened species due to habitat destruction, as well as predation and competition from non-native species.
Taxonomy and phylogeny
Historically, the relationships of the Madagascar carnivorans have been contentious, but molecular evidence suggests they form a single clade, now recognized as the family Eupleridae. The hyenaHyena
Hyenas or Hyaenas are the animals of the family Hyaenidae of suborder feliforms of the Carnivora. It is the fourth smallest biological family in the Carnivora , and one of the smallest in the mammalia...
family Hyaenidae is a sister taxon of the euplerid and herpestid clade, and when grouped together with the viverrids and felids as well as some smaller groups forms the feliform
Feliformia
The Feliformia are a suborder within the order Carnivora and includes cats , hyenas, mongooses, civets and related taxa. The other suborder of Carnivora is Caniformia...
(cat-like carnivores) clade.
The evolutionary divergence between the herpestids and the euplerids dates back to the Oligocene
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
, at a time feliforms shared many similarities, particularly between the cats and the viverrids. Palaeoprionodon (within superfamily Aeluroidea
Aeluroidea
Aeluroidea is an extant and extinct superfamily of feline-like carnivores which are or were endemic to North America, South America, Africa, and Asia...
), found in Europe and Asia from the late Eocene
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
or early Oligocene, looked similar to the modern Fossa, while Proailurus
Proailurus
Proailurus was a prehistoric carnivore that lived in Europe and Asia approximately 25 million years ago in the Late Oligocene and Miocene. One recent phylogeny places it as a basal member of the Feloidea, the superfamily that includes mongooses, civets, hyenas, and cats; but other studies suggest...
, an extinct form of cat, exhibited many viverrid-like characteristics. Despite these similarities in the fossil record, the modern Malagasy carnivores are distinctly different, with subfamily Euplerinae
Euplerinae
Euplerinae is a subfamily of carnivorans that includes three species restricted to Madagascar. Together with the subfamily Galidiinae, which also occurs on Madagascar only, it forms the family Eupleridae...
and the subfamily Galidiinae
Galidiinae
Galidiinae is a subfamily of carnivorans restricted to Madagascar which includes six species classified into four genera. Together with the three other species of indigenous Malagasy carnivorans, including the fossa, they are currently classified in the family Eupleridae within the suborder...
bearing similarities with civets and mongooses respectively. Euplerinae (including the Fossa, Falanouc, and Malagasy Civet) has auditory regions
Auditory bulla
The auditory bulla is a hollow bony structure on the ventral, posterior portion of the skull of placental mammals that encloses parts of the middle and inner ear. In most species, it is formed by the tympanic part of the temporal bone.In extant primates, the structure is found in tarsiers,...
similar to those of viverrids, while Galidiinae has auditory regions similar to those of herpestids. Based on this trait, Robert M. Hunt Jr. proposed in 1996 that Madagascar was colonized twice, once by viverrids and once by herpestids. The genetic studies by Yoder and colleagues in 2003 suggested a single colonization event by a primitive herpestid ancestor, followed quickly by adaptive radiation
Adaptive radiation
In evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. Starting with a recent single ancestor, this process results in the speciation and phenotypic adaptation of an array of species exhibiting different...
. The common ancestor arrived from Africa, probably by rafting
Rafting event
Oceanic dispersal is a type of biological dispersal that occurs when organisms transfer from one land mass to another by way of a sea crossing on large clumps of floating vegetation. Such matted clumps of vegetation are often seen floating down major rivers in the tropics and washing out to sea,...
, during the late Oligocene or early Miocene (24–18 mya), though Philippe Gaubert and Veron estimated a divergence date of 19.4 mya (16.5–22.7 mya).
- Family Eupleridae
- Subfamily EuplerinaeEuplerinaeEuplerinae is a subfamily of carnivorans that includes three species restricted to Madagascar. Together with the subfamily Galidiinae, which also occurs on Madagascar only, it forms the family Eupleridae...
- FossaFossa (animal)The fossa is a cat-like, carnivorous mammal that is endemic to Madagascar. It is a member of the Eupleridae, a family of carnivorans closely related to the mongoose family . Its classification has been controversial because its physical traits resemble those of cats, yet other traits suggest a...
, Cryptoprocta ferox - Giant Fossa, Cryptoprocta spelea (extinct)
- Eastern FalanoucFalanoucThe Falanouc is a rare mongoose-like mammal endemic Malagasy euplerid .It is classified alongside its closest living relative, the Fanaloka, in the subfamily Euplerinae. The Falanouc has several peculiarities which merit its independent classification...
, Eupleres goudotii - Western Falanouc, Eupleres major
- Malagasy Civet, Fossa fossana
- Fossa
- Subfamily GalidiinaeGalidiinaeGalidiinae is a subfamily of carnivorans restricted to Madagascar which includes six species classified into four genera. Together with the three other species of indigenous Malagasy carnivorans, including the fossa, they are currently classified in the family Eupleridae within the suborder...
- Ring-tailed MongooseRing-tailed mongooseThe Ring-tailed mongoose is a euplerid that lives on the island of Madagascar. There is actually much disagreement about the placement of Madagascar's carnivores including the Ring-tailed mongoose, within the phylogenetic tree. Recent molecular work by Anne Yoder et al...
, Galidia elegans - Broad-striped Malagasy MongooseBroad-striped Malagasy MongooseThe Broad-striped Malagasy Mongoose, Galidictis fasciata, is a species of mongoose. It is a forest-dweller native to eastern Madagascar. The species contains two known subspecies: G. f. striata and G. f. fasciata...
, Galidictis fasciata - Grandidier's Mongoose, Galidictis grandidieri
- Narrow-striped MongooseNarrow-striped MongooseThe Narrow-striped Mongoose , also locally called boky-boky in Malagasy, is a member of the family Eupleridae, subfamily Galidiinae. It inhabits the dry deciduous forests of western and southwestern Madagascar...
, Mungotictis decemlineata - Brown-tailed MongooseBrown-tailed MongooseThe brown-tailed mongoose, Malagasy brown-tailed mongoose, or salano is a species of mammal in the Eupleridae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests...
, Salanoia concolor - Durrell's MongooseSalanoia durrelliSalanoia durrelli, also known as Durrell's vontsira, is a Madagascan mammal in the family Eupleridae of the order Carnivora. It is most closely related to the brown-tailed mongoose , with which it forms the genus Salanoia. The two are genetically similar, but morphologically distinct, leading...
, Salanoia durrelli
- Ring-tailed Mongoose
- Subfamily Euplerinae