The magnitude of legal wildlife trade and implications for species survival.

The unsustainable use of wildlife is a primary driver of global biodiversity loss. No comprehensive global dataset exists on what species are in trade, their geographic origins, and trade's ultimate impacts, which limits our ability to sustainably manage trade. The United States is one of the world's largest importers of wildlife, with trade data compiled in the US Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS).

Ancient developmental genes underlie evolutionary novelties in walking fish.

A critical question in biology is how new traits evolve, but studying this in wild animals remains challenging. Here, we probe the genetic basis of trait gain in sea robin fish, which have evolved specialized leg-like appendages for locomotion and digging along the ocean floor. We use genome sequencing, transcriptional profiling, and interspecific hybrid analysis to explore the molecular and developmental basis of leg formation.

Evolution of novel sensory organs in fish with legs.

How do animals evolve new traits? Sea robins are fish that possess specialized leg-like appendages used to "walk" along the sea floor. Here, we show that legs are bona fide sense organs that localize buried prey. Legs are covered in sensory papillae that receive dense innervation from touch-sensitive neurons, express non-canonical epithelial taste receptors, and mediate chemical sensitivity that drives predatory digging behavior.