Diversification Trajectories And Evolutionary Life-history Traits In Early Sharks And Batoids

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 03 Dec 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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The timing of the early diversification of modern sharks and batoids (Neoselachii) is crucial to understand their early evolutionary history.

However, different concepts of this timing exist, which are related to discrepancies in taxonomic and phylogenetic interpretations. Statistic analyses performed in this study show that a burst in neoselachian diversity occurred very early ca.

180 Myr ago representing the first maximum diversification event in their evolutionary history. Reasons for this early and rapid diversification and radiation include small body sizes, short life spans and oviparity enabling faster ecological reorganizations and innovations in body plans for adapting to changing environmental conditions.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences