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Caracara creightoni (1 Viewer)

Peter Kovalik

Well-known member
Slovakia
Jessica A. Oswald, Julia M. Allen, Kelsey E. Witt, Ryan A. Folk, Nancy A. Albury, David W. Steadman, Robert P. Guralnick. Ancient DNA from a 2,500-year-old Caribbean fossil places an extinct bird (Caracara creightoni) in a phylogenetic context. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. In Press, Journal Pre-proof, Available online 2 August 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2019.106576

Abstract:

Since the late Pleistocene humans have caused the extinction of species across our planet. Placing these extinct species in the tree of life with genetic data is essential to understand the ecological and evolutionary implications of these losses. While ancient DNA (aDNA) techniques have advanced rapidly in recent decades, aDNA from tropical species, especially birds, has been historically difficult to obtain, leaving a gap in our understanding of the extinction processes that have influenced current distributions and biodiversity. Here we report the recovery of a nearly complete mitochondrial genome from a 2,500 year old (late Holocene) bone of an extinct species of bird, Caracara creightoni, recovered from the anoxic saltwater environment of a blue hole in the Bahamas. Our results suggest that this extinct species is sister (1.6% sequence divergence) to a clade containing the extant C. cheriway and C. plancus. Caracara creightoni shared a common ancestor with these extant species during the Pleistocene (1.2-0.4 MYA) and presumably survived on Cuba when the Bahamas was mostly underwater during Quaternary interglacial intervals (periods of high sea levels). Tropical blue holes have been collecting animals for thousands of years and will continue to improve our understanding of faunal extinctions and distributions. In particular, new aDNA techniques combined with radiocarbon dating from Holocene Bahamian fossils will allow us to place other extinct (species-level loss) and extirpated (population-level loss) vertebrate taxa in improved phylogenetic, evolutionary, biogeographic, and temporal contexts.
 
Mr Creighton (Jr.)'s caracara

• the prehistoric, sub-fossil (late Holocene alt. Quaternary of the Pleistocene) paleospecies Bahaman caracara (Polyborus) Caracara creightoni BRODKORB 1959, a k a Creighton's Caracara:
ETYMOLOGY. The new species from the Bahamas is dedicated to Albert M. Creighton, of Boston and Nassau, in recognition of his support of the summer's field work.
... which I assume is commemorating (the recently lost): Albert M. [Morton] Creighton Jr. (19182018), "Devcon Founder and Conservationist ..." (here alt. here) a k a Preservationist and Plastic-steel manufacturer, Inventor, Founding President of Chemical Development Corp, Patron of Natural History, Trustee, Large Scale Donor, Harvard College graduate, OSS volunteer, etc., etc..

Born 28 March 1918 ... passed away 17 September 2018 (here).

Even if obviously, naturally sad, it seems like he had a long and rich, as well as (judging by the Photo) a happy Life.

R.I.P.

Björn
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