Journal article
Palaeospondylus may be a new lineage of jawed vertebrates
Journal of vestibular research
07/29/2026
DOI: 10.1177/09574271261471611
PMID: 42527153
Abstract
Palaeospondylus fossils are linked to hagfish, ostracoderms, jawed vertebrates, and tetrapods, reflecting uncertain phylogenetic placement. Recent studies on P. gunni and P. australis suggest phylogenetic relationships with Tetrapodomorpha and Chondrichthyes, respectively. Jawed vertebrates are characterized by three semicircular canals, with two in cyclostomes. Palaeospondylus exhibits three canals, aligning it more closely with jawed vertebrates. Only one otoconia (sacculus) has found in P. australis, whereas jawed vertebrates typically have at least two (utricle and saccule), while cyclostomes have only one otoconia. Osteichthyes have at least six sensory epithelia, while Cyclostomes have 3-4 sensory epithelia. P. australis appears to have around four sensory epithelia, which is intermediate and unique among jawed vertebrates, potentially representing a basal condition.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Palaeospondylus may be a new lineage of jawed vertebrates
- Creators
- Bernd Fritzsch - University of Nebraska Medical CenterLionel Cavin - Natural History Museum of Geneva
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of vestibular research
- DOI
- 10.1177/09574271261471611
- PMID
- 42527153
- NLM abbreviation
- J Vestib Res
- ISSN
- 0957-4271
- eISSN
- 1878-6464
- Publisher
- Sage
- Grant note
- Swiss National Science Foundation National Institutes of Health: AG051443
The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: BF supported by National Institutes of Health grants AG051443. LC: This work was funded in part by the Swiss National Science Foundation.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 07/29/2026
- Academic Unit
- Biology; Craniofacial Anomalies Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985217073802771
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