Stefan F. WirthDec 2, 2024
#Morayeels (Muraenidae, Anguilliformes) are distantly related to the European eel. Members of the taxon Muraenoidei have conspicuous #characters. The lateral #lineorgan has been completely reduced except for a few pores, and the #gillarches are reduced. Moray eels have a so-called #pharyngealjaw, which consists of modified gill arches. As apomorphies of moray eels, larvae already lack pectoral/#pelvicfins. Photo: #Gymnothorax funebris in #BerlinAquarium ©#StefanFWirth, Bln2024
Lukas VFN 🇪🇺Nov 1, 2023

New analysis of ancient #fish may explain how shoulder evolved https://phys.org/news/2023-11-analysis-ancient-fish-shoulder-evolved.html

Fossil evidence for a pharyngeal origin of the #vertebrate pectoral girdle https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06702-4

"The #GillArches seem to have been involved in the early separation of the head and body via the shoulder. But we no longer have gill arches—though the shoulder was templated on them, they don't need to still be around today."

#Animals #Fossils #EvoDevo #Anatomy #Vertebrates #Evolution

New analysis of ancient fish may explain how shoulder evolved

A new analysis of the bones and muscles in ancient fish gives new clues about how the shoulder evolved in animals—including us.

Phys.org