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Article: Patterns of ecological diversification in thelodonts

Palaeontology Cover Image - Volume 61 Part 2
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 61
Part: 2
Publication Date: March 2018
Page(s): 303 315
Author(s): Humberto G. Ferrón, Carlos Martínez‐Pérez, Susan Turner, Esther Manzanares, and Héctor Botella
Addition Information

How to Cite

FERRóN, H.G., MARTíNEZ‐PéREZ, C., TURNER, S., MANZANARES, E., BOTELLA, H. 2018. Patterns of ecological diversification in thelodonts. Palaeontology, 61, 2, 303-315. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12347

Author Information

  • Humberto G. Ferrón - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València Paterna 46980 Valencia Spain
  • Carlos Martínez‐Pérez - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València Paterna 46980 Valencia Spain
  • Carlos Martínez‐Pérez - School of Earth Sciences University of Bristol Bristol BS8 1TQ UK
  • Susan Turner - Queensland Museum Geosciences Program Hendra Queensland 4011 Australia
  • Susan Turner - Department of Earth Sciences Monash University Clayton Victoria 3600 Australia
  • Esther Manzanares - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València Paterna 46980 Valencia Spain
  • Héctor Botella - Institut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva Universitat de València Paterna 46980 Valencia Spain

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 08 February 2018
  • Manuscript Accepted: 24 November 2017
  • Manuscript Received: 25 September 2017

Funded By

Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. Grant Number: CGL2014‐52662‐P
Valencian Generality. Grant Number: GV/2016/102
Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport. Grant Number: FPU13/02660

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
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Abstract

Here we explore the spatial, temporal and phylogenetic patterns of ecological diversification for the entire clade of thelodonts, one of the earliest groups of vertebrates and longest lasting of the Palaeozoic agnathans in the fossil record. Parsimony and maximum‐likelihood methods are used to reconstruct ancestral states of their geographical distributions, habitats and lifestyles. Our results support the concept that thelodonts originated during the Middle?–Late Ordovician probably in marine open waters of Laurasia, with a demersal lifestyle on hard substrates being the ancestral condition for the whole clade. Later, thelodonts underwent a complex ecological diversification and palaeobiogeographical history, comparable in many aspects to those of some major groups of living fishes. Different modes of life evolved repeatedly and a wide range of habitats were colonized by distinct groups, including deep waters and brackish marine and/or freshwater environments. Diadromous strategies presumably appeared on nine different occasions. The palaeobiogeographical history of thelodonts reveals significant differences in the dispersal potential of some major groups. Dispersal of thelodontiforms entailed displacements over long distances and the crossing of deep‐water biogeographical barriers, whereas those of furcacaudiforms were always limited to areas interconnected by shallow platforms. We propose that the evolution of pelagic larval stages in thelodontiforms might explain this biogeographical pattern and could satisfactorily account for the greater evolutionary success of this group.

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