Carcharhiniformes Research Articles

A comprehensive phylogenomic study unveils evolutionary patterns and challenges in the mitochondrial genomes of Carcharhiniformes: A focus on Triakidae

The complex evolutionary patterns in the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of the most species-rich shark order, the Carcharhiniformes (ground sharks) has led to challenges in the phylogenomic reconstruction of the families and genera belonging to the order, particularly the family Triakidae (houndsharks). The current state of Triakidae phylogeny remains controversial, with arguments for both monophyly and paraphyly within the family. We hypothesize that this variability is triggered by the selection of different a priori partitioning schemes to account for site and gene heterogeneity within the mitogenome. Here we used an extensive statistical framework to select the a priori partitioning scheme for inference of the mitochondrial phylogenomic relationships within Carcharhiniformes, tested site heterogeneous CAT + GTR + G4 models and incorporated the multi-species coalescent model (MSCM) into our analyses to account for the influence of gene tree discordance on species tree inference. We included five newly assembled houndshark mitogenomes to increase resolution of Triakidae. During the assembly procedure, we uncovered a 714 bp-duplication in the mitogenome of Galeorhinus galeus. Phylogenetic reconstruction confirmed monophyly within Triakidae and the existence of two distinct clades of the expanded Mustelus genus. The latter alludes to potential evolutionary reversal of reproductive mode from placental to aplacental, suggesting that reproductive mode has played a role in the trajectory of adaptive divergence. These new sequences have the potential to contribute to population genomic investigations, species phylogeography delineation, environmental DNA metabarcoding databases and, ultimately, improved conservation strategies for these ecologically and economically important species.

The extinct catshark Pachyscyllium distans (Probst, 1879) (Elasmobranchii: Carcharhiniformes) in the Pliocene of the Mediterranean Sea

Sharks assigned to the carcharhiniform family Scyliorhinidae account for about 160 extant species placed in 18 genera. Most living scyliorhinids are small- to medium- sized ground sharks provided with cat- like eyes and nasal barbels similar to whiskers; hence their vernacular name, "cat- sharks". Living catsharks mostly inhabit deep or rather deep waters of the warm and temperate seas worldwide, foraging on small fishes and inverterbates. In the present paper, we report on a lateral tooth of Scyliorhinidae collected from a clay pit at Certaldo (central Italy), where marine mudstones belonging to the famously fossiliferous Pliocene successions of Tuscany are exposed. This catshark specimen represents the second bona fide record of the extinct premontreine species Pachyscyllium distans in the Pliocene of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the geologically youngest confirmed occurrence of this species worldwide. In the Mediterranean Pliocene, P. distans thus coexisted with the similar but distinct species Pachyscyllium dachiardii. After having been widespread in Northern Atlantic, Paratethyan, and Mediterranean waters in Miocene times, P. distans became confined to the Mediterranean Sea during the Pliocene. Therefore, similar to what has recently been suggested for P. dachiardii, we hypothesise that the range of P. distans contracted southward as colder conditions took hold in the Northern Hemisphere. The eventual extinction of P. distans might be related to the first cooling episode that significantly affected the Mediterranean biota around 3 Ma.

Climate cooling and clade competition likely drove the decline of lamniform sharks

Understanding heterogeneity in species richness between closely related clades is a key research question in ecology and evolutionary biology. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed to interpret such diversity contrasts across the tree of life, with most studies focusing on speciation rates to explain clades' evolutionary radiations, while often neglecting extinction rates. Here we study a notorious biological model as exemplified by the sister relationships between mackerel sharks (Lamniformes, 15 extant species) and ground sharks (Carcharhiniformes, ∼290 extant species). Using a comprehensive fossil dataset, we found that the diversity dynamics of lamniforms waxed and waned following repeated cycles of radiation phases and declining phases. Radiation phases peaked up to 3 times the current diversity in the early Late Cretaceous. In the last 20 million years, the group declined to its present-day diversity. Along with a higher extinction risk for young species, we further show that this declining pattern is likely attributed to a combination of abiotic and biotic factors, with a cooling-driven extinction (negative correlation between temperature and extinction) and clade competition with some ground sharks. Competition from multiple clades successively drove the demise and replacement of mackerel sharks due to a failure to originate facing the rise of ground sharks, particularly since the Eocene. These effects came from ecologically similar carcharhiniform species inhibiting diversification of medium- and large-sized lamniforms. These results imply that the interplay between abiotic and biotic drivers had a substantial role in extinction and speciation, respectively, which determines the sequential rise and decline of marine apex predators.

Caudal musculature in ground sharks, Carcharhiniformes, with remarks on their phylogenetic interrelationships.

Relationships among families of the shark order Carcharhiniformes are still being debated, for example, in relation to the inclusion of hammerhead sharks (Sphyrnidae) and the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) in the Carcharhinidae. Previous morphological studies have not analyzed the phylogenetic significance of axial caudal muscles among carcharhiniforms. The authors therefore describe here the axial muscles of the tail region (m. epaxialis, m. obliquus superioris, m. obliquus inferioris, m. flexor caudalis) to better understand their anatomical patterns among carcharhiniform sharks. Our results indicate that the family Pentanchidae, recently separated from scyliorhinids (catsharks), present a similar pattern of caudal muscles to catsharks, indicating their close phylogenetic relationship. Triakids, hemigaleids, leptochariids, Galeocerdo cuvier and Prionace glauca have a unique pattern in which the medial axial bundle is bulkier than all other caudal axial muscles. Sphyrnids share with carcharhinids a similar pattern of the m. obliquus superioris (approximately the same size as the dorsal m. epaxialis) and have fibers of the m. flexor caudalis arranged in a V-shape. This chevron-shape is also present on the m. flexor caudalis of hemigaleids and leptochariids. Also, sphyrnids and carcharhinids have more slender septa between muscle bundles (more notably in carcharhinids; the only exception is Galeocerdo cuvier, which has the same pattern as sphyrnids). Although being used here as an outgroup, Squaliformes is unique in lacking one of the epaxial bundles. The authors conclude that the caudal axial musculature has greater phylogenetic potential than previously understood.

Static Dental Disparity and Morphological Turnover in Sharks across the End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction

The Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) mass extinction profoundly altered vertebrate ecosystems and prompted the radiation of many extant clades [1, 2]. Sharks (Selachimorpha) were one of the few larger-bodied marine predators that survived the K-Pg event and are represented by an almost-continuous dental fossil record. However, the precise dynamics of their transition through this interval remain uncertain [3]. Here, we apply 2D geometric morphometrics to reconstruct globaland regional dental morphospace variation amongLamniformes (Mackerel sharks) and Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks). These clades are prevalent predators in today's oceans, and weregeographically widespread during the late Cretaceous-early Palaeogene. Our results reveal a decoupling of morphological disparity and taxonomic richness. Indeed, shark disparity was nearly static across the K-Pg extinction, in contrast to abrupt declines among other higher-trophic-level marine predators [4, 5]. Nevertheless, specific patterns indicate that an asymmetric extinction occurred among lamniforms possessing low-crowned/triangular teeth and that a subsequent proliferation of carcharhiniforms with similar tooth morphologies took place during the early Paleocene. This compositional shift in post-Mesozoic shark lineages hints at a profound and persistent K-Pg signature evident in the heterogeneity of modern shark communities. Moreover, such wholesale lineage turnover coincided with the loss of many cephalopod [6] and pelagic amniote [5] groups, as well as the explosive radiation of middle trophic-level teleost fishes [1]. We hypothesize that a combination of prey availability and post-extinction trophic cascades favored extant shark antecedents and laid the foundation for theirextensive diversification later in the Cenozoic [7-10].

Ocorrência e Caracterização de Peixes Marinhos da Praia de Ponta Negra, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

A praia de Ponta Negra, localizada no municipio de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, abriga uma grande diversidade de peixes de importância economica e ecologica. Esta ictiofauna local vem sofrendo com a destruicao de seus ecossistemas devido as atividades antropicas, em especial a alta especulacao imobiliaria, ao despejo de esgoto e a pesca predatoria. O presente trabalho verificou a ocorrencia e as caracteristicas morfologicas externos de peixes marinhos das aguas costeiras da praia de Ponta Negra, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Durante o periodo de janeiro a dezembro de 2012, foi registrada a ocorrencia de dez especies de peixes, distribuidos em tres ordens (Carcharhiniformes, Siluriformes e Perciformes), oito familias (Carcharhinidae, Ariidae, Centropomidae, Carangidae, Sciaenidae, Ephippidae, Scombridae, Trichiuridae). Os resultados do presente trabalho agregam ao estudo realizado anteriormente, quando 20 outras especies de peixes marinhos foram registradas, e podem enriquecer o conhecimento da ictiofauna de aguas costeiras de Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. Palavras-chave: regiao costeira, ictiofauna, taxonomia, pesca artesanal, recursos pesqueiros.

Molecular phylogeny of elasmobranchs inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear markers

The elasmobranchs (sharks, rays and skates) being the extant survivors of one of the earliest offshoots of the vertebrate evolutionary tree are good model organisms to study the primitive vertebrate conditions. They play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance and have high economic value. Due to over-exploitation and illegal fishing worldwide, the elasmobranch stocks are being decimated at an alarming rate. Appropriate management measures are necessary for restoring depleted elasmobranch stocks. One approach for restoring stocks is implementation of conservation measures and these measures can be formulated effectively by knowing the evolutionary relationship among the elasmobranchs. In this study, a total of 30 species were chosen for molecular phylogeny studies using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, 12S ribosomal RNA gene and nuclear Internal Transcribed Spacer 2. Among different genes, the combined dataset of COI and 12S rRNA resulted in a well resolved tree topology with significant bootstrap/posterior probabilities values. The results supported the reciprocal monophyly of sharks and batoids. Within Galeomorphii, Heterodontiformes (bullhead sharks) formed as a sister group to Lamniformes (mackerel sharks): Orectolobiformes (carpet sharks) and to Carcharhiniformes (ground sharks). Within batoids, the Myliobatiformes formed a monophyly group while Pristiformes (sawfishes) and Rhinobatiformes (guitar fishes) formed a sister group to all other batoids.

The polarization of hair cells from the inner ear of the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula

The polarization of hair cells from the end organs of the inner ear from the lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula from the order Carcharhiniforms (ground sharks) was studied using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), revealing arrays of hair cells with diverse orientations on each of the sensory epithelia. The greatest numbers of hair cells were found on the utricular epithelium and orientated on the horizontal plane, whilst the smallest number were found on the anterior macula neglecta and orientated on the vertical plane. Examination of the posterior macula neglecta revealed a dense profusion of c. 500 000 individual elongate structures, each resembling long microvilli, a finding not previously described in elasmobranch auditory physiology.

Ground Sharks. A Correction

Ground Sharks. A Correction

Occurrence of Ground Sharks, Carcharhinus, in Great South Bay

Occurrence of Ground Sharks, Carcharhinus, in Great South Bay