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news Biology Evidence status: Peer reviewed · Comparative (observational) study

Fish schooling evolved about 60 times and was lost about 320, study finds

Machine learning scored 2,839 ray-finned fish species: schooling arose about 60 times, was lost about 320, and tracks predators, diet and diversification.

What it does not show Associations only: the study cannot show that predators or diet caused schooling, or that schooling caused faster diversification, and the authors cannot yet tell whether speciation rose or extinction fell.

By Murad Ali Khan 11 min read
Primary sourcesResearch and official data linked in context
Evidence calibratedObservation, interpretation and speculation separated
Corrections welcomeTransparent updates and a direct reporting channel

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