TY - JOUR AU - Mao, Ting-Ru AU - Liu, Ye-Wei AU - Meegaskumbura, Madhava AU - Yang, Jian AU - Ellepola, Gajaba AU - Senevirathne, Gayani AU - Fu, Cheng-Hai AU - Gross, Joshua B. AU - Pie, Marcio R. PY - 2021 DA - 2021/03/17 TI - Evolution in Sinocyclocheilus cavefish is marked by rate shifts, reversals, and origin of novel traits JO - BMC Ecology and Evolution SP - 45 VL - 21 IS - 1 AB - Natural model systems are indispensable for exploring adaptations in response to environmental pressures. Sinocyclocheilus of China, the most diverse cavefish clade in the world (75 species), provide unique opportunities to understand recurrent evolution of stereotypic traits (such as eye loss and sensory expansion) in the context of a deep and diverse phylogenetic group. However, they remain poorly understood in terms of their morphological evolution. Therefore, we explore key patterns of morphological evolution, habitat utilization and geographic distribution in these fishes. SN - 2730-7182 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01776-y DO - 10.1186/s12862-021-01776-y ID - Mao2021 ER -