The extinction of the dinosaurs led to a significant increase in speciation of frogs.
Scientists from the University of Texas at Austin (USA), found that the extinction of the dinosaurs led to a significant increase in speciation of frogs. Article biologists published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Experts analyzed the genomes of amphibians 301 of the 55 families, examining the variability in the 95 genes. The obtained data allowed to build the most detailed currently, phylogenetic tree — a diagram showing the evolution of this group of organisms.
It turned out that the frog has survived three “explosion” of speciation on different continents after the extinction of most dinosaurs about 66 million years ago.
According to experts, the global extinction caused by asteroid impact on the Earth, raised many animals, including frogs. The planet could remain only a few species of amphibians, however, they were able to develop the vacated ecological niches, which led to the restoration of biological diversity.
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