Middle Pleistocene protein sequences from the rhinoceros genusStephanorhinusand the phylogeny of extant and extinct Middle/Late Pleistocene Rhinocerotidae
Authors: Welker Frido , Smith Geoff M. , Hutson Jarod M. , Kindler Lutz , Garcia-Moreno Alejandro , Villaluenga Aritza , Turner Elaine , Gaudzinski-Windheuser Sabine 
Published: March 2017

Background

Ancient protein sequences are increasingly used to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships between extinct and extant mammalian taxa. Here, we apply these recent developments to Middle Pleistocene bone specimens of the rhinoceros genusStephanorhinus. No biomolecular sequence data is currently available for this genus, leaving phylogenetic hypotheses on its evolutionary relationships to extant and extinct rhinoceroses untested. Furthermore, recent phylogenies based on Rhinocerotidae (partial or complete) mitochondrial DNA sequences differ in the placement of the Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Therefore, studies utilising ancient protein sequences from Middle Pleistocene contexts have the potential to provide further insights into the phylogenetic relationships between extant and extinct species, includingStephanorhinusandDicerorhinus.

Methods

ZooMS screening (zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry) was performed on several Late and Middle Pleistocene specimens from the genusStephanorhinus, subsequently followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to obtain ancient protein sequences from a Middle PleistoceneStephanorhinusspecimen. We performed parallel analysis on a Late Pleistocene woolly rhinoceros specimen and extant species of rhinoceroses, resulting in the availability of protein sequence data for five extant species and two extinct genera. Phylogenetic analysis additionally included all extant Perissodactyla genera (Equus,Tapirus), and was conducted using Bayesian (MrBayes) and maximum-likelihood (RAxML) methods.

Results

Various ancient proteins were identified in both the Middle and Late Pleistocene rhinoceros samples. Protein degradation and proteome complexity are consistent with an endogenous origin of the identified proteins. Phylogenetic analysis of informative proteins resolved the Perissodactyla phylogeny in agreement with previous studies in regards to the placement of the families Equidae, Tapiridae, and Rhinocerotidae.Stephanorhinusis shown to be most closely related to the generaCoelodontaandDicerorhinus. The protein sequence data further places the Sumatran rhino in a clade together with the genusRhinoceros, opposed to forming a clade with the black and white rhinoceros species.

Discussion

The first biomolecular dataset available forStephanorhinusplaces this genus together with the extinct genusCoelodontaand the extant genusDicerorhinus. This is in agreement with morphological studies, although we are unable to resolve the order of divergence between these genera based on the protein sequences available. Our data supports the placement of the genusDicerorhinusin a clade together with extantRhinocerosspecies. Finally, the availability of protein sequence data for both extinct European rhinoceros genera allows future investigations into their geographic distribution and extinction chronologies.