A large body of diverse comparative data now exists for a major phylogenetic synthesis of the higher-level relationships among eutherian (placental) mammals. We present such a phylogenetic synthesis using the composite trees or supertrees from the combined and separate analyses of their published molecular and morphological source phylogenies. Our combined and separate supertrees largely support the same suprafamilial taxa and orders, but different interordinal clades. These similarities and differences reinforce the continuing contributions of morphological studies, while highlighting the growing influence of molecular information on the field. As current summaries of past research, our supertrees emphasize opportunities for future work, while providing a step toward the eventual integration of the data and characters themselves.

The causes of high biological diversity in biodiversity hotspots have long been a major subject of study in conservation biology. To investigate this matter, we conducted a phylogeographic study of five Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) species from East and Southeast Asia: Drosophila albomicans Duda, D. formosana Duda, D. immigrans Sturtevant, D. melanogaster Meigen, and D. simulans Sturtevant. We collected 185 samples from 28 localities in eight countries. From each collected individual, we sequenced the autosomal extra sex comb gene (esc) and seven mitochondrial genes, including nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrate-reductase dehydrogenase subunit 4 (ND4), ND4L, tRNA-His, tRNA-Pro, tRNA-Thr, partial ND5, and partial ND6. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum- likelihood and Bayesian methods revealed interesting population structure and identified the existence of two distinct D. formosana lineages (Southeast Asian and Taiwanese populations). Genetic differentiation among groups of D. immigrans suggests the possibility of endemic speciation in Taiwan. In contrast, D. melanogaster remained one extensively large population throughout East and Southeast Asia, including nearby islets. A molecular clock was used to estimate divergence times, which were compared with past geographical events to infer evolutionary scenarios. Our findings suggest that interglacial periods may have caused population isolation, thus enhancing population differentiation more strongly for some of the Drosophila species. The population structure of each Drosophila species in East and Southeast Asia has been influenced by past geographic events.

White-lipped island pit viper (Cryptelytrops insularis) is one of the most distributed Viperidae in Indonesia, especially in eastern part of Sundaland and Lesser Sunda. To investigate the evolutionary history and the dispersal pattern of C. insularis, we collected 23 samples from 11 localities. Four simultaneous genes composing two mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA & ND4) and two nuclear genes (7IβFIB & 3ITBP) have been successfully amplified and sequenced. Bayesian inference was performed to reconstruct the phylogeny tree. Furthermore, time divergence and the population demography analyses were estimated. The phylogeny tree of C. insularis exhibits monophyletic group, with four geographically structured lineages. The time divergence estimation indicated that C. insularis evolved at approximately 7 million years ago (mya). Population demography was inferred by Bayesian Skyline Plot analysis, it shows that the population increased constantly from the past to recent time. The evolutionary history of C. insularis can be explained by a pattern of the time divergences estimation that indicating movement from West (Java) to East (Lesser Sunda). We expected that the dispersal factor of C. insularis into many different islands (in Lesser Sunda) is caused by the animal helped and also oceanic rafting which could be the stepping stones to another island.