Biological color may be adaptive or incidental, seasonal permanent, species- population-specific, modified for breeding, defense camouflage. Although is a hugely informative aspect of biology, quantitative comparisons are notoriously difficult. Color comparison limited by categorization methods, with available tools requiring either subjective classifications, expensive equipment, software, and expertise. We present an R package processing images organisms (or other objects) in order to...

The damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) inhabit near-shore communities in tropical and temperature oceans as one of the major lineages coral reef fish assemblages. Our understanding their evolutionary ecology, morphology function has often been advanced by increasingly detailed accurate molecular phylogenies. Here we present next stage multi-locus, phylogenetics for group based on analysis 12 nuclear mitochondrial gene sequences from 345 422 damselfishes. resulting well-resolved phylogeny...

Variability in the biomechanics and kinematics of prey capture vertebrates has been studied extensively, with evidence multiple strategies for successful feeding many taxa. Early research into suction-feeding strikes fishes hypothesized that fish utilize a set pre-programmed strike cannot be altered once initiated. However, more recent demonstrated teleost not only deploy unique different types, but they also alter their response to item attempting escape. It yet explicitly investigated...

ABSTRACT Air sacs are a well-known aspect of insect tracheal systems, but have received little research attention. In this Commentary, we suggest that the study distribution and function air in tracheate arthropods can provide insights broad significance. We preliminary phylogenetic evidence developmental pathways for creation broadly conserved throughout arthropods, possession is strongly associated with few traits, including capacity powerful flight, large body or appendage size buoyancy...

The functional capabilities of flexible, propulsive, appendages are directly influenced by their mechanical properties. fins fishes have undergone extraordinary evolutionary diversification in structure and function, which raises questions how fin mechanics relate to swimming behavior. In the fish family Labridae, pectoral behavior ranges from rowing flapping. Rowers more maneuverable than flappers, but flappers generate greater thrust at high speeds achieve efficiency all speeds....

Triggerfishes and filefishes (Balistoidea) use balistiform locomotion to power steady swimming with their dorsal anal fins transition a gait dominated by body caudal fin (BCF) kinematics at high speeds. Fin shapes are predicted be strong determinants of performance transitions. The goal this study was combine morphometrics critical tests explore relationships between in phylogenetic context order understand the evolution swimming. Among 13 species balistoid fishes, those aspect ratio tended...

Burrowing through the substrate is a common behaviour in many organisms, both invertebrate and vertebrate. Sand-diving, burrowing fish family Labridae, consists of quick forceful headfirst plunge into sediment followed by undulatory axial body movements until completely concealed beneath surface. This study determined that sand-diving slippery dick wrasse Halichoeres bivittatus composed two distinct phases movements. In first phase, undulations occur at high frequencies wave speeds low...

ABSTRACT Many fishes use substantial cranial kinesis to rapidly increase buccal cavity volume, pulling prey into the mouth via suction feeding. Living polypterids are a key lineage for understanding evolution and biomechanics of feeding because their phylogenetic position unique morphology. Polypterus bichir have fewer mobile elements compared with teleosts [e.g. immobile (pre)maxillae] but successfully generate through dorsal, ventral lateral oral expansion. However, relative contributions...

Abstract The damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) inhabit near-shore communities in tropical and temperature oceans as one of the major lineages coral reef fish assemblages. Our understanding their evolutionary ecology, morphology function has often been advanced by increasingly detailed accurate molecular phylogenies. Here we present next stage multi-locus, phylogenetics for group based on analysis 12 nuclear mitochondrial gene sequences from 345 422 damselfishes. resulting well-resolved...

Abstract The organization of tissues in appendages often affects their mechanical properties and function. In the fish family Labridae, swimming behavior is associated with pectoral fin flexural stiffness morphology, where fins range on a continuum from stiff to relatively flexible fins. Across this diversity, decreases exponentially along length any given ray, ray chord leading trailing edge. study, we examine morphological rays, including effective modulus bending ( E ), second moment area...

During ontogeny, animals often undergo significant shape and size changes, coinciding with ecological shifts. This is evident in parrotfishes (Eupercaria: Labridae), which experience notable shifts during development, transitioning from carnivorous diets as larvae juveniles to herbivorous omnivorous adults, using robust beaks skulls for feeding on coral skeletons other hard substrates. These ontogenetic mirror their evolutionary history, are known have evolved wrasse ancestors. Parallel at...

AbstractA clear longitudinal gradient in species richness across oceans is observed extant marine fishes, with the Indo-Pacific exhibiting greatest diversity. Three non-mutually-exclusive evolutionary hypotheses have been proposed to explain this diversity gradient: time for speciation, center of accumulation, and situ diversification rates. Using morphologically disparate syngnatharians (seahorses, dragonets, goatfishes, relatives) as a study system, we tested these additionally assessed...

Abstract Research on the water-to-land transition tends to focus locomotor changes necessary for terrestriality. However, evolution from water breathing air was also a precursor invasion of land. Air is approximately 1000 times less dense and 50 viscous, contains hundreds more oxygen than water. unlike terrestrial locomotion, does not require body weight support, so may have necessitated smaller morphology function. We used X-ray reconstruction moving compare cranial kinematics aquatic...

For many species of fishes, rhythmic movement the pectoral fins, or forelimbs, drives locomotion. In terrestrial vertebrates, normal limb-based gaits require ongoing modulation with limb mechanosensors. Given complexity fluid environment and dexterity fish swimming through it, we hypothesize that mechanosensory is also critical to fin-based swimming. Here examine role sensory feedback from fin rays membrane on neuromuscular control kinematics Pectoral electromyograms six major muscles...

Biological color may be adaptive or incidental, seasonal permanent, species- population-specific, modified for breeding, defense camouflage. Although is a hugely informative aspect of biology, quantitative comparisons are notoriously difficult. Color comparison limited by categorization methods, with available tools requiring either subjective classifications, expensive equipment, software, and expertise. We present an R package processing images organisms (or other objects) in order to...

Suction feeding in fishes is characterized by rapid cranial movements, but extant lungfishes (Sarcopterygii: Dipnoi) exhibit a reduced number and mobility of bones relative to actinopterygian fishes. Despite fusion elements, are proficient at suction feeding, though the impacts novel morphology kinesis on remain poorly understood. We used X-ray reconstruction moving (XROMM) study kinematics seven mobile elements (neurocranium, upper jaw, lower tongue, ceratohyal, clavicle, rib) two muscles...

Abstract Triggerfishes and filefishes (Balistoidea) use balistiform locomotion to power slow steady swimming with their dorsal anal fins transition a gait dominated by body caudal fin (BCF) kinematics at high speeds. Fin shapes are predicted be strong determinants of performance the biomechanics transitions. The goal this study was combine morphometrics critical tests explore relationships between balistoid in phylogenetic context order understand evolution diversification mode. Among 13...

Biological color may be adaptive or incidental, seasonal permanent, species- population-specific, modified for breeding, defense camouflage. Although is a hugely informative aspect of biology, quantitative comparisons are notoriously difficult. Color comparison limited by categorization methods, with available tools requiring either subjective classifications, expensive equipment, software, and expertise. We present an R package processing images organisms (or other objects) in order to...

Color is a central aspect of biology, with important impacts on ecology and evolution. Organismal color may be adaptive or incidental, seasonal permanent, species- population-specific, modified for breeding, defense camouflage. Thus, measuring comparing among organisms provides biological insights. However, comparison limited by categorization methods, few universal tools available quantitative profiling comparison. We present package R processing images (or other objects) in order to...

ABSTRACT Modern (lepisosteid) gars are a small clade of seven species and two genera that occupy an important position on the actinopterygian phylogenetic tree as members Holostei ( Amia + gars), sister-group teleost radiation. Often referred to “living fossils,” these taxa preserve many plesiomorphic characteristics used interpret reconstruct early osteichthyan feeding conditions. Less attention, however, has been paid functional implications gar-specific morphology, thought be related...

Abstract Clades of marine fishes exhibit many patterns diversification, ranging from relatively constant throughout time to rapid changes in the rates speciation and extinction. The goatfishes (Syngnatharia: Mullidae) are a family marine, reef associated with recent origin, distributed globally tropical temperate waters. Despite their abundance economic importance, remain one few coral families for which species level relationships have not been examined using genomic techniques. Here we use...

Abstract Suction feeding in fishes is characterized by rapid cranial movements, but extant lungfishes (Sarcopterygii: Dipnoi) exhibit a reduced number and mobility of bones relative to actinopterygian fishes. Despite fusion elements, are proficient at suction feeding, though the impacts novel morphology kinesis on remain poorly understood. We used X-ray Reconstruction Moving Morphology (XROMM) study kinematics seven mobile skeletal elements (neurocranium, upper jaw, lower tongue, ceratohyal,...

ABSTRACT Triggerfishes and filefishes exhibit a wide range of fin body morphologies, inhabit many marine habitats, feed on variety benthic pelagic organisms. Particular morphologies are predicted to provide functional advantages for swimming behaviors that facilitate life in diverse habitats feeding guilds. Ecomorphological relationships can, turn, inform evolutionary patterns morphological convergence. We quantified diversity 80 balistoid species using geometric morphometrics assigned each...