Evolution et diversité des cerfs télémétacarpiens de l'Ancien Monde (Capreolinae, Cervidae, Mammalia)

International audienceModern Eurasian telemetacarpal deer represent a poor remnant of the rich evolutionary radiation of the subfamily Capreolinae from the past. The evolutionary radiation of capreolines took place during the Late Miocene in the middle latitudes of Eurasia, but their diversity was significantly depleted by the subsequent climate changes. The multivariate cluster analysis of diagnostic craniodental characters (including antlers) of modern and fossil telemetacarpal deer and some cervid forms with uncertain systematic position demonstrates that such Late Miocene and Pliocene genera as Cervavitus, Pliocervus, and Lucentia should be regarded as capreolines, demonstrating a diversified evolutionary radiation of the subfamily Capreolinae in the past. Lucentia represents the primitive two-pointed stage of antler evolution of Capreolinae and possibly belongs to the phylogenetic branch that includes Procapreolus and Pliocervus. The Capreolus-Rangifer-Odocoileus phylogenetic branch has a more distant phylogenetic relationship with the Lucentia-Procapreolus-Pliocervus group. The cluster analysis shows that modern Capreolus may represent an early evolutionary off-shoot of the Rangifer-Odocoileus lineage. The obtained for Capreolus results do not fit the genetic data, suggesting that the set of recorded craniodental characters may be improved. The Cervavitus-Alces group is the most detached phylogenetic branch of Capreolinae. According to the present study, holometacarpal "Cervocerus novorossiae” from the Late Tertiary of China is nested within the subfamily Cervinae. Among the most notable plesiomorphic craniodental characters of Capreolinae should be mentioned the parallel and sloped backwardslong pedicles, the Palaeomeryx fold in lower molars, the protoconal fold in upper molars, and the high position of the first antler ramification