Abstract

Domestic buffalo and cattle are two extremely important livestock species in worldwide agricultural production. Despite some similarities with respect to morphologic and genetic characters, cattle and buffalo are divergent evolutionarily and are classified as different genera within the subfamily of Bovinae (Bos and Bubalus). The present study aimed at partial bayesian phylogenetic reconstruction of bovini tribe (Bovidae, Bovinae) from cDNA of 7 autosomal genes. Divergence times between cattle and buffalo were estimated using a relaxed molecular clock using calibration points based on best estimates of divergence times in the fossil record for Suina-Ruminantia and Laurasiatheria-Euarchontoglires splits. In the present analysis two calibration points were accessed. The two bovine subtribes consistently resolved themselves as a dichotomous group with strong support for a bifurcation between representatives of bovina and bubalina subtribes. Based on the molecular calibrations divergence time of buffalo and cattle was estimated to be 10.4 MYA. The mouse and rat split was estimated to be 36.6 MYA. The results are in agreement with the previous studies being carried out different research groups.

Key words: Phylogenetics, molecular calibration, bovidae, bovinae, divergence time, buffalo, cattle, laurasiatheria, ruminantia, euarchontoglires.