Meeting Abstract

32.6  Friday, Jan. 4  Evolution and Kinematics of Pectoral Fins in Malawi Cichlids RUPP, M.F.*; HULSEY, C.D.; University of Tennessee Knoxville; University of Tennessee Knoxville mrupp@utk.edu

In adaptive radiations such as Malawi cichlids there is a high degree of variation in the way pectoral fins are used in locomotion during feeding and other routine activities. To try and better understand the factors behind the evolution of pectoral fin musculature we tested for differences in the pectoral fin morphology between groups of species, calculated rates of pectoral fin muscle evolution, and explored differences in locomotion during feeding via high speed video. Using this data and known phylogenetic relationships between the species, we were able to compare rates and patterns of macroevolution in cichlid pectoral fins.