Are Cartilaginous Fish Ancestral to Lobe-Finned Fish? Unraveling Fish Evolution Connections
Cartilaginous fish, like sharks and rays, are not ancestors of lobe-finned fish. Lobe-finned fish evolved from a shared ancestor before cartilaginous and bony fish diverged. Lobe-finned fish, such as Coelacanths, lead to tetrapods. In contrast, cartilaginous fish belong to a different lineage. Research suggests that lobe-finned fish may have a common ancestor with cartilaginous fish. … Read more