The origins and diversification of rabbitfishes
Author Identifier
Alexandre C. Siqueira: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7970-4024
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Title
Biology of Rabbitfishes
First Page
46
Last Page
61
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Science
Abstract
This chapter delves into the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the rabbitfish family, Siganidae. It begins by contextualizing rabbitfishes within the broader diversity of reef-associated fishes, highlighting their unique evolutionary trajectory despite their modest diversity compared to other typical coral reef fish families. The paleontological record of the Siganidae, especially from the Eocene period of Monte Bolca, Italy, provides significant insights into the early origins of rabbitfishes. This fossil evidence, combined with modern phylogenetic methods, suggests a complex evolutionary history marked by periods of both rapid diversification and significant extinction events. Since their origins, rabbitfishes have undergone various phases of diversification, particularly during the Oligocene/Miocene and Pliocene/Pleistocene epochs. These phases align with broader ecological changes in coral reef environments, particularly with known shifts in marine biodiversity hotspots and the rise of reefs dominated by fast-growing coral species. The biogeographic history of rabbitfishes suggests that their origins can be traced back to the western Tethys region, raising important questions about their current distribution limited to the Indo-Pacific realm. This chapter then concludes with an examination of the development of novel traits within rabbitfishes and offering recommendations for future research to further elucidate their interesting evolutionary dynamics.
DOI
10.1201/9781003269403-3
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Hoey, A. S., Taylor, B. M., Siqueira, A. C., & Cowman, P. F. The origins and diversification of rabbitfishes. In Biology of Rabbitfishes (pp. 46-61). CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003269403-3