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A genomic study of 48 shark, ray and skate species analyzed two types of genetic data — protein-coding sequences and ultra-conserved regions — to examine the evolutionary relationships among cartilaginous fishes, known as Chondrichthyes.

A genomic study of 48 shark, ray and skate species analyzed two types of genetic data — protein-coding sequences and ultra-conserved regions — to examine the evolutionary relationships among cartilaginous fishes, known as Chondrichthyes.

Protein-coding exons supported the traditional view that sharks form a monophyletic group, while ultra-conserved elements suggested sharks may be paraphyletic, with Hexanchiformes forming a lineage distinct from all other sharks, rays and skates.

Protein-coding exons supported the traditional view that sharks form a monophyletic group, while ultra-conserved elements suggested sharks may be paraphyletic, with Hexanchiformes forming a lineage distinct from all other sharks, rays and skates.

Hexanchiformes — which include cow sharks and frilled sharks — have six or seven gill slits instead of the usual five, along with primitive-looking jaws, and retain the ancestral jaw structure of cartilaginous fishes.

Hexanchiformes — which include cow sharks and frilled sharks — have six or seven gill slits instead of the usual five, along with primitive-looking jaws, and retain the ancestral jaw structure of cartilaginous fishes.

Evolutionary biologists Thomas Near and Chase Brownstein of Yale University conducted the analysis, noting that if sharks are paraphyletic, rays and skates would effectively represent another form of shark, with the shark body plan emerging first.

Evolutionary biologists Thomas Near and Chase Brownstein of Yale University conducted the analysis, noting that if sharks are paraphyletic, rays and skates would effectively represent another form of shark, with the shark body plan emerging first.

The study's time-calibrated phylogeny supports a Jurassic diversification of most sharks and a Cretaceous-Paleogene diversification of rays and skates, tying living cartilaginous fish diversity to shifts in marine ecosystems during the Mesozoic Era.

The study's time-calibrated phylogeny supports a Jurassic diversification of most sharks and a Cretaceous-Paleogene diversification of rays and skates, tying living cartilaginous fish diversity to shifts in marine ecosystems during the Mesozoic Era.

Gavin Naylor, an evolutionary biologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, noted that animals resembling modern sharks have existed for roughly 330 million years, and that accurate phylogenies help researchers understand the processes shaping life.

Gavin Naylor, an evolutionary biologist at the Florida Museum of Natural History, noted that animals resembling modern sharks have existed for roughly 330 million years, and that accurate phylogenies help researchers understand the processes shaping life.

Genomic Study Rewrites Shark Evolutionary Tree

MostGenomic SharksStudy NotRewrites aShark NaturalEvolutionary Biological GroupTree

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Genomic Study Rewrites Shark Evolutionary Tree

MostGenomic SharksStudy NotRewrites aShark NaturalEvolutionary Biological GroupTree

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