Lemur Systematics and Hemoglobin Phylogeny a

There can be only one actual phylogenetic history for any group of organisms. The use of biochemical data is one of several possible means to try to estimate the genetic relationships between organisms. Neontological data, including macromolecular sequences, become particularly relevant in groups with poor or poorly understood fossil records. Hence, we have chosen to study globin evolution in prosimian primates. The dynamics of the evolution of this family of molecules is particularly well suited to contribute to an understanding of prosimian phylogeny.’.’ Results of analyses of P-globin sequences are beginning to produce information bearing on a number of important questions in the phylogeny of prosimian primates. We have determined the amino acid sequences of P globins from Lemur catta, ’ Lemur variegatus, ’ and Hapalemur griseus (in preparation). These proteins have been analyzed in comparison to the other known prosimian P-globin sequences: Lemur fulvus,‘ Nycticebus coucang. ’ and Loris tardigradus. The latter two species belong to the superfamily Lorisoidea, while the remaining species belong to the superfamily Lemuroidea. The phenetic distance between the P-globin sequences for each species is shown in TABLE 1. A number of generalizations are supportable based upon these data. (A) All of the lemuroid sequences are clearly and equally separated from the lorisoid sequences. This is also supported by prosimian a-globin data.’ (B) As a group the lemuroid sequences are much more divergent from each other than are the lorisoid sequences. (C) Within the Lemuroidea, the L. catta and the L. variegatus P globins are closely related. (D) H. griseus /3 globin appears approximately equidistant from the three Lemur sequences. (E) L. fulvus, /3 globin, in contrast, shows fewer changes from that of H. griseus than it does from the catta/variegatus cluster.