Phylogeny of Dictyoptera: Dating the Origin of Cockroaches, Praying Mantises and Termites with Molecular Data and Controlled Fossil Evidence

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130127
• Publication Date: 2015-07-22T17:50:42Z
• Authors: Frédéric Legendre; André Nel; Gavin J. Svenson; Tony Robillard; Roseli Pellens; Philippe Grandcolas
• Keywords: Blattodea; Fossil Record

Understanding the origin and diversification of organisms requires a good phylogenetic estimate their age rates. This can be difficult to obtain when samples are limited fossil records disputed, as in Dictyoptera. To choose among competing hypotheses for dictyopteran suborders, we root analysis (~800 taxa, 10 kbp) within large selection outgroups calibrate datings with fossils attributed lineages clear synapomorphies. We find following topology: (mantises, (other cockroaches, (Cryptocercidae, termites)). Our suggest that crown-Dictyoptera-and stem-mantises-would date back Late Carboniferous (~ 300 Mya), result compatible oldest putative stem-dictyoptera. Crown-mantises, however, would much more recent 200 Mya; Triassic/Jurassic boundary). pattern (i.e., old diversification) suggests scenario replacement carnivory polyneopterous insects. The most common ancestor (cockroaches + termites) Permian (~275 which contradicts hypothesis Devonian cockroaches. Stem-termites boundary, refutes Triassic origin. directions extant extinct species sampling sharpen this chronological framework evolutionary studies.