Genome-wide ultraconserved elements resolve phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history among Neotropical leaf-nosed bats in the genus Anoura (Phyllostomidae)

Anoura Gray, 1838 are Neotropical nectarivorous bats and the most speciose genus within the phyllostomid subfamily Glossophaginae. However, Anoura species limits remain debated, and phylogenetic relationships remain poorly known, because previous studies used limited Anoura taxon sampling or focused primarily on higher-level relationships. Here, we conduct the first phylogenomic study of Anoura by analyzing 2039 genomewide ultraconserved elements (UCEs) sequenced for 42 individuals from 8 Anoura species/lineages plus two outgroups. Overall, our results based on UCEs resolved relationships in the genus and supported (1) the monophyly of small-bodied Anoura species (previously genus Lonchoglossa); (2) monotypic status of A. caudifer; and (3) nested positions of A. carishina, A. caudifer aequatoris, and A. geoffroyi peruana specimens within A. latidens, A. caudifer and A. geoffroyi, respectively (suggesting that these taxa are not distinct species). Additionally, (4) phylogenetic networks allowing reticulate edges did not explain gene tree discordance better than the species tree (without introgression), indicating that a coalescent model accounting for discordance solely through incomplete lineage sorting fit our data well. Sensitivity analyses indicated that our species tree results were not adversely affected by varying taxon sampling across loci. Tree calibration and Bayesian coalescent analyses dated the onset of diversification within Anoura to around similar to 6-9 million years ago in the Miocene, with extant species diverging mainly within the past similar to 4 million years. We inferred a historical biogeographical scenario for Anoura of parapatric speciation fragmenting the range of a wide-ranging ancestral lineage centered in the Central to Northern Andes, along with Pliocene-Pleistocene dispersal or founder event speciation in Amazonia and the Brazilian Atlantic forest during the last similar to 2.5 million years.

Automated summary

Through analysis of ultraconserved elements, we confirmed relationships within the Anoura genus and supported the monophyly of small-bodied Anoura species, the monotypic status of A. caudifer, and the nested positions of certain specimens within other Anoura species. Additionally, we found that the coalescent model explaining discordance solely through incomplete lineage sorting fit the data well, while phylogenetic networks did not explain gene tree discordance better than the species tree.