In a seminal study on elasmobranch systematics, Maisey proposed the monophyly of a large lineage of sharks based primarily on the sharing of an orbitostylic jaw suspension. This group was later redefined as the Squalomorphi, which included Squatinidae but not Batoidea. Subsequent morphological analyses, however, rejected Maisey’s scheme, which was left aside for nearly two decades until the first molecular phylogenies began to cluster again the orbitostylic sharks into a monophyletic group. In a broad comparative investigation of the anatomy of the appendicular skeleton of cartilaginous fishes, we discovered new evidence supporting the monophyly of squalomorph sharks: the presence of a posterior process at the lateral region of the coracoid bar serving as a origin site for the depressor pectoralis II muscle. This feature would be the first strong morphological evidence in 40 years potentially supporting the monophyly of Squalomorphi.

在关于弹性分支系统的开创性研究中，迈西提出了主要基于共享眶下颌骨悬架的大鲨鱼谱系的单方面研究。该组后来被重新定义为Squalomorphi，其中包括鳞科但不包括蝙蝠科。但是，随后的形态学分析拒绝了Maisey的方案，该方案被搁置了将近20年，直到第一个分子系统学开始将眶口鲨再次聚类为一个单系统组。在软骨鱼类的四肢骨骼的解剖结构的广泛比较研究，我们发现了新的证据支持squalomorph鲨鱼的单系：一个后处理的喙突条的作为起源部位为横向区域存在降压胸大肌II肌肉。该特征将是40年来第一个有力的形态学证据，可能支持Squalomorphi的单字。