Based on upper jaw tooth morphology of 38spp we reconstruct the evolution of these regimes. We uncover a dynamic relationship between lateral and ventral biting, emphasizing a major role for transitions in feeding kinematics in the ecological diversification of this group.

We find that these feeding repertoires are underpinned by 3 main feeding regimes, namely, lateral biting, ventral biting, and brushing. These regimes are functionally linked to the upper jaw tooth morphology of surgeonfishes.

Here, we used high-speed filming to quantify how surgeonfishes (Acanthuridae) detach filamentous algae. Based on 319 bites from 15 spp we find high diversity in the frequency of different kinematic behaviours.

Congrats Emily! Great work!

Thanks Bill! 🙂

Thanks Liz! 🙂

10/10 We suggest that the evolution of many other traits, not typically considered key innovations, could affect species diversification in this way.

9/10 These results suggest that the combination of uniquely high evolutionary lability and the ecological versatility of complex teeth drove rapid diversification of cichlids in Lakes Malawi, Victoria, and Barombi Mbo. A new explanation for why these groups diversify so rapidly!

8/10 But having complex teeth is still a benefit. When lineages have complex teeth, they switch between different diets at much faster rates. This ecological versatility is elevated because complex teeth allow transitions through herbivory and omnivory.

7/10 When we fit SSE models, we find lability (greens) consistently increases speciation rate, despite high background rate variation. So, differences in lability explain speciation rate differences within rift lakes AND across habitats – separating out the “rift lake” effect.

6/10 Investigating this with more complex Bayesian models, we find that even within African cichlids, there are differences in lability. Lability is much higher in Lakes Malawi, Victoria, and Barombi Mbo – exceptional adaptive radiations.