Brain morphology of Gymnura lessae and Gymnura marmorata (Chondrichthyes: Gymnuridae) and its implications for batoid brain evolution.

Although skeletal and muscle anatomy has supported Gymnuridae as the sister group of the most derived myliobatoids, recent studies based on molecular characters suggest that the family branches into a more basal position than previously thought. This study aims to understand the brain anatomy of the genus Gymnura and its importance in the evolution of the batoid brain. The brain anatomy of Gymnura lessae and Gymnura marmorata is relatively simple.