Ray fin fish phylogeny, slowly coming into focus
Every day there are changes
in the ray-fin fish subset of the large reptile tree (LRT, 1796+ taxa). This constant involvement, day-after-day has been as rewarding as frustrating. Earlier we looked at some of the more interesting and unexpected pairings. Here (Fig. 1) is the latest iteration:
This, then, is a step back to look at the clade in toto,
to see if any taxa or clades don’t belong together. I don’t profess that this cladogram is finished or perfect. Rather, it is presented to expose its frailties in order to repair them.
Some takeaways (at present):
- Basalmost taxa are derived from Gregorius and the moray eel clade
- Basalmost taxa retain teeth on the maxilla and the parietals are not separated medially
- Basalmost taxa are related to spiny sharks on the other bony fish clade, the one that leads to placoderms, catfish, lobefins and tetrapods
- Basalmost taxa skew toward a deep sea niche today, perhaps not in the past
- Basalmost taxa radiated in the Late Silurian to Early Devonian
- Xiphactinus represents the largest size attained by tested clade members
- Sea horses, like Hippocampus, are among the smallest and least similar to ancestral taxa
- The loosening of the maxilla occurred by convergence several times
- The appearance of the palatine as a cheek bone occurred several times
- Basalmost taxa are generally small and slow. Transitional taxa are speedy, open-sea predators. Derived taxa return to bottom-dwelling sit-and-wait predation
- Some basal taxa (e.g. Amia) can breathe air. Lepidogalaxias estivates.
- Only the mudskipper, Periophthlamus (Fig. 2), crawls out above the surface, keeping its gills bathed with cheekfulls of water. No other ray-fin taxa develop anything like a crawling, lobe-like fin.
Source: https://pterosaurheresies.wordpress.com/2021/02/11/ray-fin-fish-phylogeny-slowly-coming-into-focus/
Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.
"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.
Please Help Support BeforeitsNews by trying our Natural Health Products below!
Order by Phone at 888-809-8385 or online at https://mitocopper.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomic.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Order by Phone at 866-388-7003 or online at https://www.herbanomics.com M - F 9am to 5pm EST
Humic & Fulvic Trace Minerals Complex - Nature's most important supplement! Vivid Dreams again!
HNEX HydroNano EXtracellular Water - Improve immune system health and reduce inflammation.
Ultimate Clinical Potency Curcumin - Natural pain relief, reduce inflammation and so much more.
MitoCopper - Bioavailable Copper destroys pathogens and gives you more energy. (See Blood Video)
Oxy Powder - Natural Colon Cleanser! Cleans out toxic buildup with oxygen!
Nascent Iodine - Promotes detoxification, mental focus and thyroid health.
Smart Meter Cover - Reduces Smart Meter radiation by 96%! (See Video).