Fig 3.

The age of Pangaea and the emergence of herpesviruses. Based on data provided in several reports cited in this minireview, the herpesviruses arose 400 mya in ancestral synapsids and sauropsids, during or even before formation of the supercontinent of Pangaea. Among the most ancient viral species are the GTHV strains, which infect green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) (16, 42). This reptilian alphaherpesvirus continues to be found in green turtles in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (26). By analogy, it is likely that similarly ancient beta- and gammaherpesviruses existed within sauropsids at the time of Pangaea, as illustrated in the tree. Current human herpesviruses arose after Pangaea had separated into Gondwanaland and subsequently into Africa (<200 mya). Abbreviations within Pangaea: EA, Europe/Asia; NA, North America; SA, South America; AF, Africa; AN, Antarctica; and AU, Australia.