A classic key innovation constrains oral jaw functional diversification in fishes.

ABSTRACT: Modifications to the pharyngeal jaws-a prey processing system located posterior to the mouth cavity-are widely considered a key innovation that enhanced diversification within several prominent fish clades. Seen in cichlids, damselfishes, wrasses, and a few other lineages, these musculoskeletal alterations are believed to increase the evolutionary independence and, thus, the diversification of the oral and pharyngeal jaw systems. To test this classic hypothesis, we conducted comparative phylogenetic analyses to assess the effect of the pharyngeal novelty on the diversification of feeding morphology and kinematics across a taxonomically diverse sample of spiny-rayed fishes. We quantified movements of the oral jaws and other craniofacial structures from 689 suction-feeding strikes using high

SUBMITTER: Roberts-Hugghis AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11790220 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature