Drivers of diversification in sharks and rays (Chondrichthyes: Elasmobranchii)
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
12
Published: Jan. 10, 2025
Elasmobranchs
(sharks
and
rays)
are
a
charismatic
lineage
of
unquestionable
ecological
importance
in
past
present
marine
ecosystems.
Represented
by
over
1200
species,
elasmobranchs
have
undergone
substantial
shifts
taxonomic
diversity
since
their
origin.
Quantifying
these
diversification
trends
underlying
causes
improves
our
understanding
macroevolutionary
processes
the
factors
influencing
community
composition
through
deep
time.
Studies
addressing
drivers
Elasmobranchii
yielded
conflicting
results;
some
report
clear
relationships
between
specific
traits
events,
whilst
others
fail
to
find
support
for
such
relationships.
There
is
also
evidence
suggest
that
biotic
interactions
or
environmental
(global
climatic
change
tectonic
events)
shaped
elasmobranch
dynamics.
In
this
review,
we
summarise
dynamics
evolutionary
history,
before
considering
three
principal
hypothesised
clade:
trait
evolution,
interactions,
change.
Finally,
discuss
major
limitations
field,
how
discordant
methodologies
data
sources
hamper
current
Elasmobranchii.
Whilst
future
studies
will
undoubtedly
be
required
further
unravel
complex
relationship,
no
single
factor
can
considered
sole
satisfactory
explanation
observed
time
exclusion
other.
Language: Английский
Bioluminescence and repeated deep-sea colonization shaped the diversification and body size evolution of squaliform sharks
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
292(2042)
Published: March 1, 2025
Understanding
the
underlying
mechanisms
that
have
generated
striking
biodiversity
inhabiting
deep-sea
ecosystems
remains
a
challenge
in
evolutionary
biology.
Here,
we
addressed
this
topic
by
studying
macroevolutionary
dynamics
shaped
diversification
of
squaliform
sharks,
an
iconic
clade
vertebrates.
Using
phylogenetic
comparative
methods
and
fossil-based
Bayesian
estimates,
both
at
species
level,
combined
fossil
record
data
with
molecular
phylogenies
to
provide
quantitative
framework
for
understanding
history
Squaliformes.
We
reveal
early
lineages
originated
shallow
water
during
Early
Cretaceous
experienced
multiple
independent
shifts
toward
deep
sea
Late
Cretaceous.
Importantly,
show
these
were
likely
facilitated
acquisition
bioluminescence,
which
significantly
impacted
body
size
evolution
among
lineages.
Furthermore,
colonization
events
coincide
periods
climate
warming
marine
transgression
Cenomanian-Turonian
Palaeocene-Eocene
transitions.
Following
colonizations,
diversified
over
last
30
Myr,
resulting
one
richest
radiations
sharks.
These
results
demonstrate
how
complex
interplay
between
key
innovation
new
habitats
drove
major
ecological
transition,
highlighting
importance
integrative
when
deep-time
dynamics.
Language: Английский
The ancestor of sharks and rays laid eggs, but ancestral state reconstructions need empirically supported traits and transparent reporting: a comment on Katona et al. (2023)
Journal of Evolutionary Biology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 29, 2025
Language: Английский
Three-dimensional fossils of a Cretaceous collared carpet shark (Parascylliidae, Orectolobiformes) shed light on skeletal evolution in galeomorphs
Royal Society Open Science,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
12(4)
Published: April 1, 2025
A
rich
fossil
record
of
teeth
shows
that
many
living
shark
families'
origins
lie
deep
in
the
Mesozoic.
Skeletal
fossils
sharks
to
whom
these
belonged
are
far
rarer
and
when
they
preserved
often
flattened,
hindering
understanding
evolutionary
radiation
groups.
Here
we
use
computed
tomography
describe
two
articulated
Upper
Cretaceous
skeletons
from
Chalk
UK
preserving
three-dimensional
neurocrania,
visceral
cartilages,
pectoral
vertebrae.
These
display
skeletal
anatomies
characteristic
Parascylliidae,
a
family
Orectolobiformes
now
endemic
Australia
Indo
Pacific.
However,
differ
having
more
heavily
mineralized
braincase
tri-basal
fin
endoskeleton,
while
their
can
be
attributed
new
species
problematic
taxon
Pararhincodon.
Phylogenetic
analysis
confirms
Pararhincodon
is
stem-group
parascylliid,
providing
insight
into
evolution
parascylliids'
distinctive
anatomy
during
late
Mesozoic-Cenozoic
shift
orectolobiform
biodiversity
Northern
Atlantic
Meanwhile
both
extant
parascylliids
have
vertebral
morphology
previously
described
only
Carcharhiniformes,
contributing
perspective
picture
emerging
macroevolutionary
analyses
coastal,
small-bodied
for
galeomorphs.
Language: Английский
Heterochrony and Oophagy Underlie the Evolution of Giant Filter‐Feeding Lamniform Sharks
Evolution & Development,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
27(1)
Published: Nov. 30, 2024
ABSTRACT
Evolutionary
transitions
toward
gigantic
body
sizes
have
profound
consequences
for
the
structure
and
dynamics
of
ecological
networks.
Among
elasmobranchs
(sharks
rays),
gigantism
has
evolved
on
several
occasions,
most
notably
in
iconic
Megalodon
(
Otodus
megalodon
†)
extant
whale
shark
Rhincodon
typus
),
basking
Cetorhinus
maximus
megamouth
Megachasma
pelagios
all
which
reach
total
lengths
exceeding
6
m
and,
some
cases,
21
or
more.
Comparative
phylogenetic
studies
suggest
that
filter
feeding
heterothermy
provide
two
alternative
evolutionary
pathways
leading
to
sharks.
These
selection‐based
explanations
are
important;
however,
our
understanding
size
is
fundamentally
constrained
without
a
proximate,
mechanistic
how
suite
adaptations
necessary
facilitate
evolved.
Here
we
propose
heterochrony
hypothesis
evolution
giant
filter‐feeding
ecomorphotype.
We
craniofacial
oophagy
embryonic
stages
lamniform
sharks
retained
through
ontogeny
C.
M.
by
paedomorphosis,
resulting
an
enlarged
head
mouth
relative
rest
body,
even
adulthood.
This
change
developmental
timing
enables
these
taxa
optimize
prey
acquisition,
thought
be
limiting
factor
marine
vertebrates.
discuss
concordance
this
with
current
developmental,
morphological,
data,
future
means
could
tested.
Language: Английский