Meeting Abstract

15.2  Saturday, Jan. 4 10:45  Evolution of the Skeleton in Chondrichthyan Fishes CRAWFORD, C.H.*; BALANOFF, A.M.; MAISEY, J.G.; NAYLOR, G.J.P.; College of Charleston; American Museum of Natural History; American Museum of Natural History; College of Charleston crawford.callie@gmail.com

Current understanding of Chondrichthyan phylogeny lags behind that of most vertebrate classes. Of the studies conducted to date, many have produced conflicting topologies. In an effort to address the lack of consensus about Chondrichthyan phylogeny, we are examining both molecular and morphological data in the development of a Chondrichthyan Tree of Life. Molecular estimates will be constructed from approximately 1000 single copy orthologous nuclear genes while morphological data will be based on comparative skeletal anatomy derived from CT scanned specimens. In this presentation, the skeletal component of the Tree of Life project and the processes which go into creating interactive digital representations of the CT scan data will be discussed. Additionally, I will present some skeletal structures we have encountered to date and discuss their implications in the context of competing hypotheses of evolutionary relationships at the family level.