Diversity and Evolution of Semionotid Fishes

新翼鱼纲是硬骨鱼类中最重要的一类，它们最近的物种数量大大超过了所有其他脊椎动物群。然而，它们的早期历史仍然知之甚少，并且在基础新翅目动物之间的系统发育关系，因此硬骨鱼的起源，仍然是一个谜。其中一个最重要的和有争议的基翅类动物是半子体。尽管半拟鱼是中生代沉积物中最常见的基础新翼动物之一，并且该群体的成员是最早被描述的化石鱼类之一，但它们的α分类和它们的系统发育关系迄今尚未得到解决。此外，在新翅目动物中半分裂体的系统发育位置还远不清楚。因此，当前项目的目标是建立一个系统发育框架，以便更好地了解半纲动物的进化和多样性，并分析它们在新翼类动物中的系统发育地位。在一个三步的方法中，首先将建立最重要的半粒纲属的分类，然后将这些属置于系统发育的背景下，最后，在前两个阶段的基础上，将分析半粒纲在新鸟属中的位置。该项目将有助于更好地了解中生代新翼动物的多样性和演化，以及一般基底新翼动物的特征演化。

The Neopterygians are the most important group of bony fishes, with their Recent species numbers greatly exceeding that of all other vertebrate groups. However, their early history is still poorly understood, and the phylogenetic relationships among basal neopterygians, and thus the origin of teleosts, remain enigmatic. One of the most important and controversial groups of basal neopterygians are the semionotids. Although semionotids are among the most common basal neopterygians in Mesozoic sediments, and members of the group were among the first fossil fishes to be described, even their alpha taxonomy and their phylogenetic relationships have not been resolved so far. Furthermore, the phylogenetic position of semionotids within neopterygians is far from clear. The objectives of the current project are thus to establish a phylogenetic framework to attain a better understanding of semionotid evolution and diversity, and to analyse their phylogenetic position within neopterygians. In a three-step approach, first the taxonomy of the most important genera of semionotids will be established, then these will be put in a phylogenetic context, and finally, building on the two previous phases, the position of semionotids within neopterygians will be analysed. The project will lead to a much better understanding of Mesozoic neopterygian diversity and evolution, and character evolution in basal neopterygians in general.