The biogeography of extant lungfishes traces the breakup of Gondwana
The biogeography of extant lungfishes traces the breakup of Gondwana
C. Brownstein,Richard C. Harrington,T. Near
TLDR
Lungfishes are one of the two surviving clades from the once diverse grade of lobe‐finned fishes leading to tetrapods and whether their present distribution tracks ancient geographical change is a classic problem in biogeography.
Abstract
Lungfishes are one of the two surviving clades from the once diverse grade of lobe‐finned fishes leading to tetrapods. This classic living fossil lineage, which is the living sister to four‐limbed terrestrial vertebrates, appeared approximately 425 million years ago and rapidly diversified. However, the evolution of lungfishes after their initial radiation is poorly understood, and whether their present distribution tracks ancient geographical change is a classic problem in biogeography.