100-million-year dynasty of giant planktivorous bony fishes in the Mesozoic seas

Friedman, M., Shimada, K., Martin, L.D., Everhart, M.J., Liston, J.J., Maltese, A. and Triebold, M. (2010) 100-million-year dynasty of giant planktivorous bony fishes in the Mesozoic seas. Science, 327(5968), pp. 990-993. (doi: 10.1126/science.1184743)

Abstract

Large-bodied suspension feeders (planktivores), which include the most massive animals to have ever lived, are conspicuously absent from Mesozoic marine environments. The only clear representatives of this trophic guild in the Mesozoic have been an enigmatic and apparently short-lived Jurassic group of extinct pachycormid fishes. Here, we report several new examples of these giant bony fishes from Asia, Europe, and North America. These fossils provide the first detailed anatomical information on this poorly understood clade and extend its range from the lower Middle Jurassic to the end of the Cretaceous, showing that this group persisted for more than 100 million years. Modern large-bodied, planktivorous vertebrates diversified after the extinction of pachycormids at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, which is consistent with an opportunistic refilling of vacated ecospace.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Liston, Dr Jeff
• Authors: Friedman, M., Shimada, K., Martin, L.D., Everhart, M.J., Liston, J.J., Maltese, A., and Triebold, M.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences; University Services > Library and Collection Services > Museum and Art Gallery
• Journal Name: Science
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• ISSN (Online): 1095-9203
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2010 American Association for the Advancement of Science
• First Published: First published in Science 327(5968):990-993
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher