Hybrid origin of a primate, the gray snub-nosed monkey

Abstract

Hybridization is widely recognized as promoting both species and phenotypic diversity. However, its role in mammalian evolution is rarely examined. We report historical hybridization among a group of snub-nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus ) that resulted in the origin of a hybrid species. The geographically isolated gray snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus brelichi shows a stable mixed genomic ancestry derived from the golden snub-nosed monkey ( Rhinopithecus roxellana ) and the ancestor of black-white ( Rhinopithecus bieti ) and black snub-nosed monkeys ( Rhinopithecus strykeri ). We further identified key genes derived from the parental lineages, respectively, that may have contributed to the mosaic coat coloration of R. brelichi , which likely promoted premating reproductive isolation of the hybrid from parental lineages. Our study highlights the underappreciated role of hybridization in generating species and phenotypic diversity in mammals.