ABSTRACT
It is unclear whether adelphophagy is a plesiomorphic stage in the evolution of pure oophagy or an autapomorphic condition confined to C. taurus. Information on reproduction of Mitsukurina should shed light on this question. In oophagous species the initial stages of embryonic development are supported solely by the yolk-sac, and oophagy most probably evolved from simple yolk-sac viviparity.
