Phylogenetic relationships and divergence times are important pieces of information for
evolutionary biologists, given that they provide a framework for understanding the evolution
of phenotypes. There are now statistical methods that estimate divergence times without
assuming that all lineages evolve at the same rate (Huelsenbeck et al., 2000; Sanderson,
1997; Thorne et al., 1998). Here I apply these methods to the neotropical hystricomorph
rodents. The hystricomorph rodents are highly diverse in terms of life history traits, body …