Evolution of Netsepoye hawesi
Netsepoye hawesi is an extinct species of fish within the Chondrichthyes class. This fish was alive during the Carboniferous period. This specific species has been extinct for over 320 million years. Netsepoye hawesi is known for their distinct sharp teeth which were discovered in fossil remains. Netsepoye hawesi went extinct due to geological changes during the Mississippian period. Netsepoye hawesi can be found related to the modern day, living fish species of Chimaera.
Evolution
Netsepoye hawesi is an example of evolution based on the fact that this fish species went extinct because of the tectonic changes in the upper Midwest of North America during the Mississippian period. These geological changes transformed the environments and habitats that these fish lived in. These geological changes included the continents moving closer together to form Pangea. Once Pangea was formed, the bodies of water surrounding North America began to diminish, affecting the marine life in these areas. The shrinking of waters created glaciers which caused most of the bodies of water to turn completely into ice, killing off all of the living species within those waters. These species that were still surviving after the geological transformations had slim to no chance of surviving much longer. This resulted in the extinction of many marine species including the Netsepoye hawesi.
Another reason that Netsepoye hawesi is an example of evolution is due to the related characteristics of the extinct fish Netsepoye hawesi that are found in the modern-day living fish species of Chimaera, which is in the same class as the other extinct fish; Chondrichthyes. These fish within this class live close to the bottom of the ocean and feed on smaller living creatures. They are often called “rat fish” and sweep the bottoms of the ocean floor for anything with nutrients. The fossils found of Netsepoye hawesi show characteristics of Chimaera. These characteristics are the same environmental living conditions and razor-sharp teeth used for protection and predation. The fossils also show their common body types, including large pectoral fins. Chimaera are closely related to sharks; however, they do not resemble shark’s pointed, regenerable teeth. The characteristics that are evident in Chimaera are also evident in the extinct fish species from the Carboniferous period, which brings evolution of older species into the modern world. There is fossil evidence found of Netsepoye hawesi showing their distinct sharp teeth, along with fossils of two other related fish that went extinct around the same time; Janassa bituminosa and Belantsea montana. The characteristics of the class of Chondrichthyes include cartilaginous fishes; jawed vertebrates with scales, corresponding fins and nares, chambered series heart, and the skeletons containing cartilage; no bone. There are two subclasses within Chondrichthyes; Elasmobranchii and Holocephali. Netsepoye hawesi, Janassa bituminosa, Belantsea montana, and Chimaera are all categorized into the subclass of Holocephali. The only species left of this subclass is the Chimaera (rabbit fish) and the Callorhynchus (elephant fish). This is evolutionary because the living fish of Chimaera has characteristics of the extinct fish; Netsepoye hawesi.
Related Extinct Species
Netsepoye hawesi is found to be related to two other fish species, Janassa bituminosa and Belantsea montana, within the Chondrichthyes class, that went extinct during the same time period.
References
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