TimeTree 5: An Expanded Resource for Species Divergence Times

TLDR

The TimeTree of Life project synthesizes published molecular timetrees to make evolutionary knowledge accessible. This paper presents the fifth edition of the TimeTree of Life resource (TToL5). TToL5 is accessed via a web portal that provides species divergence times, evolutionary timelines, and timetrees at any taxonomic rank, offers an ADA‑compliant and mobile‑friendly interface after code refactoring, and supplies programmatic access through a public API at timetree.temple.edu/api. TToL5 includes divergence time data for 137,306 species—41 % more than the previous edition—and is publicly available at timetree.org.

Abstract

Abstract We present the fifth edition of the TimeTree of Life resource (TToL5), a product of the timetree of life project that aims to synthesize published molecular timetrees and make evolutionary knowledge easily accessible to all. Using the TToL5 web portal, users can retrieve published studies and divergence times between species, the timeline of a species’ evolution beginning with the origin of life, and the timetree for a given evolutionary group at the desired taxonomic rank. TToL5 contains divergence time information on 137,306 species, 41% more than the previous edition. The TToL5 web interface is now Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant and mobile-friendly, a result of comprehensive source code refactoring. TToL5 also offers programmatic access to species divergence times and timelines through an application programming interface, which is accessible at timetree.temple.edu/api. TToL5 is publicly available at timetree.org.