This interdisciplinary research group was established in 2006. Our research group seeks to understand evolutionary patterns both at the organism and molecular levels by integrating data from the fossil record and living organisms. The overarching topic of the group concerns almost all aspects of palaeobiology of predominantly marine fishes from all ages, such as comparative anatomy, taxonomy, phylogenetics and systematic, evolutionary trajectories, diversification patterns, and adaptive traits. Molecular (palaeo-)biological approaches also are employed for studying molecular phylogenetics, rates of evolution of organisms, and molecular clock analyses. The reserach group is divided into two clusters. Stefanie Klug´s Lab concentrates on the evolutionary history of extant and extinct elasmobranchs (e.g., Hybodontiformes, Neoselachii) with special focus on neoselachian stem-group representatives, whereas Juergen Kriwet´s Lab investigates the evolution of crown-group neoselachians and bony fishes.

Our research is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), the Marie-Curie Actions of the European Union, and Synthesys.