188
(Late Triassic) Amiidae (Liu et al. 2003; Grande and Hilton 2006; Grandstaff et al.
2012; López-Arbarello 2012; Table 5.4). Thus they possibly could have served as
host fishes together with the modern teleostei. Several authors (e.g. Dubiel et al.
1991; Watters 2001; Dzik and Sulej 2007; Skrzycki 2015) noticed co-occurrence of
the early unionoids with the widespread lung fish, Dipnoi, which, since the
Carboniferous, lived in freshwaters and could serve as hosts. The evidence of the
shell damage (presumably in Late Triassic, Middle-Late Jurassic), which can be
attributed to the predation by a lungfish, may support their somewhat close relation
(Gorzelak et al. 2010; Van Damme et al. 2015, Qvarnström et al. 2017). Barnhart
et al. (2008), Haag (2013) and Patterson (2018) have recently noticed that some
extant unionids (Ellipsaria, Leptodea, Potamilus and Truncilla [Lampsilini,
Unionidae]) evolved unique strategies to infest a freshwater drum (Aplodinotus
grunniens) which feeds on them. These strategies include: broadcasting the larvae
close to the river bottom, where the drum feeds; attracting the drum to induce the
ingestion of larvae by gaping widely the gravid females; or gravid females being
ingested by the drum. One may assume, that the latter “strategy” could have been
easily introduced in early unionoids, although all of these strategies could have been
present then. This also could be an evolutionary selecting pressure to develop huge
amounts of small larvae (with their low cost), which may cause an unusually high
infestation of their hosts (Coker et al. 1921; Haag 2013). Other molluscivorous fish
Table 5.4 The fossil record and molecular clock estimates indicating the latest possible date of
origin of ancient fish orders and families that serve as hosts to the extant unionids
Order
Earliest occurrence (Mya) References (fossil data indicated with asterisk)
Family
Polypteriformes
Albian 112–99
Broughton et al. (2013)
Cenomanian 100–94
Gayet et al. (2002)∗ Grandstaff et al. (2012)∗
Polypteridae
Rupelian ~30
Betancur-R et al. (2017)
Cenomanian 100–94
Grandstaff et al. (2012)∗
Coniacian 87
http://timetree.org
Lepistosteiformes Carnian 237–227
Goodwin et al. (1999)∗
Albian 113–100
Gayet et al. (2002)∗
Cenomanian 100–94
López-Arbarello (2012)∗
Lepisosteidae
Burdigalian ~20
Betancur-R et al. (2017)
Cenomanian 100–94
López-Arbarello (2012)∗
Thanethian 57
http://timetree.org
Amiiformes
Changhsingian 254
Wang and Jin (2007)∗
Amiidae
Ladinian ~240
Liu et al. (2003)∗
Norian 222
Bogan et al. (2013)∗
Acipenseriformes Induan 252
Nielsen (1955)∗
Hettangian 200
Bemis et al. (1997)∗
Acipenseriidae Bartonian ~40
Betancur-R et al. (2017)
Campanian 80–75
Grande and Hilton (2006)∗
Oxfordian 158
http://timetree.org
A. Skawina
(Late Triassic) Amiidae (Liu et al. 2003; Grande and Hilton 2006; Grandstaff et al.
2012; López-Arbarello 2012; Table 5.4). Thus they possibly could have served as
host fishes together with the modern teleostei. Several authors (e.g. Dubiel et al.
1991; Watters 2001; Dzik and Sulej 2007; Skrzycki 2015) noticed co-occurrence of
the early unionoids with the widespread lung fish, Dipnoi, which, since the
Carboniferous, lived in freshwaters and could serve as hosts. The evidence of the
shell damage (presumably in Late Triassic, Middle-Late Jurassic), which can be
attributed to the predation by a lungfish, may support their somewhat close relation
(Gorzelak et al. 2010; Van Damme et al. 2015, Qvarnström et al. 2017). Barnhart
et al. (2008), Haag (2013) and Patterson (2018) have recently noticed that some
extant unionids (Ellipsaria, Leptodea, Potamilus and Truncilla [Lampsilini,
Unionidae]) evolved unique strategies to infest a freshwater drum (Aplodinotus
grunniens) which feeds on them. These strategies include: broadcasting the larvae
close to the river bottom, where the drum feeds; attracting the drum to induce the
ingestion of larvae by gaping widely the gravid females; or gravid females being
ingested by the drum. One may assume, that the latter “strategy” could have been
easily introduced in early unionoids, although all of these strategies could have been
present then. This also could be an evolutionary selecting pressure to develop huge
amounts of small larvae (with their low cost), which may cause an unusually high
infestation of their hosts (Coker et al. 1921; Haag 2013). Other molluscivorous fish
Table 5.4 The fossil record and molecular clock estimates indicating the latest possible date of
origin of ancient fish orders and families that serve as hosts to the extant unionids
Order
Earliest occurrence (Mya) References (fossil data indicated with asterisk)
Family
Polypteriformes
Albian 112–99
Broughton et al. (2013)
Cenomanian 100–94
Gayet et al. (2002)∗ Grandstaff et al. (2012)∗
Polypteridae
Rupelian ~30
Betancur-R et al. (2017)
Cenomanian 100–94
Grandstaff et al. (2012)∗
Coniacian 87
http://timetree.org
Lepistosteiformes Carnian 237–227
Goodwin et al. (1999)∗
Albian 113–100
Gayet et al. (2002)∗
Cenomanian 100–94
López-Arbarello (2012)∗
Lepisosteidae
Burdigalian ~20
Betancur-R et al. (2017)
Cenomanian 100–94
López-Arbarello (2012)∗
Thanethian 57
http://timetree.org
Amiiformes
Changhsingian 254
Wang and Jin (2007)∗
Amiidae
Ladinian ~240
Liu et al. (2003)∗
Norian 222
Bogan et al. (2013)∗
Acipenseriformes Induan 252
Nielsen (1955)∗
Hettangian 200
Bemis et al. (1997)∗
Acipenseriidae Bartonian ~40
Betancur-R et al. (2017)
Campanian 80–75
Grande and Hilton (2006)∗
Oxfordian 158
http://timetree.org
A. Skawina