Molecular Phylogeny of the Sharks and Rays of Superorder Squalea Based on Mitochondrial Cytochrome b Gene
Year: 1996
Type: article
Abstract: The current morphological classification of elasmobranchs is unclear and needs refinement. This is true particularly for the relationship between sharks and rays. We determined the DNA nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from eight species in superorder Squalea, including eight orders of sharks and one order of rays. The molecular phylogenetic tree established from the deduced cytochrome b amino acid sequences provides strong evidence for the dichotomous classification of sharks and rays within Squalea. These results do not support the recent claim that sharks and rays are not separated into two different groups at the level of order or highertaxa. Though several cladistic studies based on morphology support the grouping of all rays into one superorder or one order, our genetic data suggest that several higher taxa are represented within rays. Alternatively, some of the higher taxa of sharks may be converged to fewer taxa.
Source: Fisheries Science
Institutions: Nagasaki University, The University of Tokyo
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1587134172