Coevolution and cospeciation Parasitism

a parasite undergoes co-speciation host. example between simian foamy virus (sfv) , primate hosts. phylogenies of sfv polymerase , mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit ii african , asian primates found closely congruent in branching order , divergence times, implying simian foamy viruses co-speciated old world primates @ least 30 million years.

the presumption of shared evolutionary history between parasites , hosts can elucidate how host taxa related. instance, there has been dispute whether flamingos more closely related storks or ducks. fact flamingos share parasites ducks , geese taken evidence these groups more closely related each other either storks. however, evolutionary events such duplication or extinction of parasite species (without similar events on host phylogeny) erode similarities between host , parasite phylogenies. in case of flamingos, have similar lice of grebes. flamingos , grebes have common ancestor, implying cospeciation of birds , lice in these groups. flamingo lice switched hosts ducks, creating situation had confused biologists.