Email:

maiseySPAMFILTER@amnh.org

Phone:

212-769-5811

Fax:

212-769-5842

Curriculum Vitae (short version)

Education

• University of London (University College), Ph.D., 1974
• University of London (University College), D.Phil., 1971
• University of Exeter, B.Sc., 1970

Research Interests

Sharks are among the most awe-inspiring fishes in the world, and they have an ancient pedigree extending more than 400 million years, but we know surprisingly little about their origins and subsequent evolution. Dr. Maisey studies extremely rare shark fossils, including some of the earliest shark-like fishes, in order to discover answers to these mysteries. An important aspect of his work involves the use of high-resolution CT-scanning of fossils, to reveal the internal structure of the braincase in both extinct and modern sharks. Although sharks are commonly considered "primitive" or "unevolved," their anatomy is really quite specialized. In particular, their brains and sensory organs have many features not found in other vertebrates. He discovered that the ability of sharks and rays to detect low frequency sound appeared comparatively late in their evolution, but was already well developed in sharks by about 150 million years ago. Dr. Maisey has also discovered that the braincases of some 400-million-year old sharks and bony fishes closely resemble each other, strengthening the view that these groups evolved from a common vertebrate ancestor with jaws. He is now collaborating with colleagues in France, Canada and Australia on the earliest shark fossils, from the Devonian of Bolivia, South Africa, Canada, and Western Australia.

• Publications

  2012   Soto, M., M.S. de Carvalho, J.G. Maisey, D. Perea & J. Da Silva. Coelacanth remains from the Late Jurassic-?earliest Cretaceous of Uruguay: The southernmost occurrence of the Mawsoniidae. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology32(3): 530–537.

  2012   What is an ‘elasmobranch'? The impact of palaeontology in understanding elasmobranch phylogeny and evolution. Journal of Fish Biology80(5): 918–951.  (Invited contribution in special Elasmobranch volume).

  2011   Maisey, J. G. Northeastern Brazil: out of Africa? InI. S. Carvalho, N. K. Srivastava, O. Strohschoen Jr. & C. C. Lana (eds.),Paleontologia: Cenários de Vida Volume 4. pp. 515- 529.  Rio de Janeiro, Editoria Interciência.

  2011   Pradel, A., P. Tafforeau, J.G. Maisey & P. Janvier.  A New Paleozoic Symmoriiformes (Chondrichthyes) from the Late Carboniferous of Kansas (USA) and Cladistic Analysis of Early Chondrichthyans. PLoS ONE 6(9): e24938. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0024938.

  2011   Maisey, J.G. The braincase of the Middle Triassic sharkAcronemus tuberculatus(Bassani 1886).Palaeontology54(2): 417–428

• Teaching Experience

  Faculty Appointments

  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology and Doctoral faculty of the Graduate School and University Center, CUNY, 1990
  • Adjunct Professor, Department of Ichthyology, University of Guelph, Ontario, 1990
  • Lecturer, Geology, St. Albans College, Hertfordshire, England, l976-l979
  • Demonstrator, Geology, University of Exeter, Devonshire, England, l973-l975
  • Demonstrator, Zoology Department, University College London, England, l970-l972
  • Lecturer, Geology, Polytechnic of North London, 1970-1972

   

  Courses Taught

  • Directed Reading (Jennifer Lane), CUNY, 2004-2005
  • Comparative anatomy and evolution of fishes, CUNY, 1994-1995
  • Lectures on the principles of cladistic analysis and biogeography, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, 1992
  • Tutorial sessions in Paleoichthyology, CUNY, 1990
  • NYU course in Ichthyology, AMNH, Dept. of Ichthyology, 1981, 1987
  • Various courses in Geology, Geography, Vertebrate Zoology; St. Albans College, 1978-1979
  • Geology, Paleontology; Open University tutorials, 1977-1978, 1976-1977
  • Vertebrate Paleontology; Dept. of Geology, University of Exeter, 1974-1975
  • General Paleontology; Dept. of Geology, University of Exeter, 1973-1974
  • Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy; Dept. Zoology & Comparative Anatomy, University College, London, 1971-1972
  • General Paleontology; Geology Dept., Polytechnic of North London, 1970-1972

   

  Graduate Advisees

   

  Graduate Committees

  • Jennifer Lane, CUNY