CSIC study reveals new evolutionary history of shrimp

An international research study led by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has proposed a new theory regarding the evolutionary origins and global expansion of shrimp. Contrary to traditional hypotheses suggesting an origin in the ancient Tethys Sea, the study indicates that these crustaceans originated in the Eastern Pacific approximately 125 million years ago during the Lower Cretaceous.

To reconstruct this evolutionary timeline, researchers analyzed over 34,000 records from 155 current species, utilizing a combination of fossil data, molecular markers, and statistical models. The findings reveal that shrimp undertook long-distance migrations, including movements between America and Africa, as well as colonization efforts toward Oceania and Southeast Asia.

The research, published in the Journal of Biogeography, also noted an increase in dispersion around the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, the period associated with the mass extinction of dinosaurs. The study highlights that the high adaptability and environmental tolerance of these crustaceans were key factors in their ability to colonize new habitats and expand globally.