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Prof Charles Underwood

Positions held:
  • Professor of Palaeobiology, School of Natural Sciences
  • Assistant Dean, Earth and Planetary Sciences; School of Natural Sciences
Email
  • Research

    Research

    Research interests

    • The evolution and palaeontology of sharks and relatives
    • Development and evolution of teeth and related structures of cartilaginous vertebrates
    • Mesozoic and Cenozoic marine palaeontology

    Research overview

    At present I am following up several different research directions within the general field of chondrichthyes palaeontology and evolution.

    In collaboration with workers both in the UK and overseas I am studying the evolution and development of teeth and other tooth-like structures in sharks and other chondrichthyes. Initial work focussed on cross disciplinary studies using data from fossils, modern specimens and developmental biology to look at biological and ecological control of tooth formation. Thus subsequently expanded to include teeth like structures such as rostral denticles (in sawfish etc) and especially the tooth plates of holocephalans.聽

    This research area is now expanding to include study on the mineralisation of the shark skeleton in relation to both their evolution and ecology.

    I am also continuing a long term research interest in the evolution and radiation of sharks and rays in the Mesozoic and Paleogene. This has especially focussed on the Jurassic-Cretaceous radiation of neoselachians, and the radiation of sharks following the end-Cretaceous extinction event.

    Related to shark radiation, I am also working on the palaeoecology of sharks are rays, particularly focussing on niche filling during marine radiations and also the repeated incursions of sharks and rays into fresh water.

    Research Centres and Institutes

  • Supervision and teaching

    Supervision and teaching

    Supervision

    Supervisions external to 糖心logo入口:
    3
    Supervisions within 糖心logo入口:
    5

    I am always willing to hear from prospective聽PhD students who have interests that are similar to my research.

    Current doctoral researchers

    • REBEKAH SMITH
      Nature of supervision:
      PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,
    • CHLOE GRIFFITHS
      Nature of supervision:
      PRINCIPAL SUPERVISOR,

    Doctoral alumni since 2013-14

    • SIMON WILLS
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor
      Title of thesis:
      Dinosaur micro-remains from the Middle Jurassic of Britain
      Awarded:
      2023
    • EDUARDO VILLALOBOS SEGURA
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Awarded:
      2020
    • SALLY COLLINS
      Nature of supervision:
      Principal Supervisor,
      Awarded:
      2023

    Teaching

    I currently teach a number of different modules at 糖心logo入口:

    Invertebrate Palaeontology (Level 4)

    Vertebrate Palaeontology (Level 6)

    Palaeoecology (Level 6)


    In addition I regularly organise and run field classes (or virtual field classes in 2021) at levels 4, 5 or 6.

    I am also currently working on al new module that will be run in conjunction with 糖心logo入口 History, Archaeology and Classics.

    Teaching modules

    • Introduction to Earth and Planetary Science
    • Life and the Fossil Record
    • Methods in Natural Sciences II
    • The Vertebrate Fossil Record
    • Assessed Field Techniques 3
  • Publications

    Publications

    Article

    • Dearden, R.P. and Johanson, Z. and O'Neill, H.L. and Miles, K. and Bernard, E. and Clark, B. and Underwood, Charles and Rucklin, M. (2025) . Royal Society Open Science 12 (4), ISSN 2054-5703.
    • Shimada, K. and Motani, R. and Wood, J.J. and Sternes, P.C. and Tomita, T. and Bazzi, M. and Collareta, A. and Gayford, J.H. and Turtscher, J. and Jambura, P.L. and Kriwet, J. and Vullo, R. and Long, D.L. and Summers, A.P. and Maisey, J.G. and Underwood, Charles and Ward, D.J. and Maisch, H.M. and Perez, V.J. and Feichtinger, I. and Naylor, G.J.P. and Moyer, J.K. and Higham, T.E. and da Silva, J.P. and Bornatowski, H. and Gonzalez-Barba, G. and Griffiths, M.L. and Becker, M.A. and Siversson, M. (2025) . Palaeontologia Electronica 28 (1502), ISSN 1094-8074.
    • LeBlanc, A.R.H. and Smith, M.M. and Debiais-Thibaud, M. and Manzanares, E. and Dean, M. and Underwood, Charles and Johanson, Z. (2025) . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 292 (2054), ISSN 0962-8452.
    • T眉rtscher, J. and Jambura, P. and Villalobos-Segura, E. and L贸pez-Romero, F. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Thies, D. and Lauer, B. and Lauer, R. and Kriwet, J. (2024) . Papers in Palaeontology 10 (2), pp. e1552. ISSN 2056-2799.
    • Sternes, P. and Jambura, P. and T眉rtscher, J. and Kriwet, J. and Siversson, M. and Feichtinger, I. and Naylor, G. and Maisey,, J. and Tomita, T. and Moyer, J. and Higham, T. and da Silva, J.P. and Bornatowski, H. and Long, D. and Perez, V. and Collareta, A. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D. and Vullo, R. and Gonz谩lez-Barba, G. and Maisch, H. and Griffiths, M. and Becker, M. and Wood, J. and Shimada, K. (2024) . Palaeontologia Electronica (27.1.a), ISSN 1094-8074.
    • Wills, Simon and Underwood, Charles and Barrett, P. (2024) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology ISSN 0272-4634.
    • Wills, Simon and Underwood, Charlie J. and Barrett, P. (2023) . Papers in Palaeontology (e1487), pp. 1-28. ISSN 2056-2799.
    • Villalobos-segura, Eduardo and Marrama, G. and Carnevale, G. and Claeson, K. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Naylor, G. and Kriwet, J. (2022) . Diversity 14 (6), pp. 456. ISSN 1424-2818.
    • Clark, B. and Chaumel, J. and Johanson, Z. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Smith, M. and Dean, M. (2022) . Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology 12, ISSN 2296-634X.
    • Villalobos-segura, Eduardo and Kriwet, J. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Vullo, R. and Stumpf, S. and Ward, D.J. (2021) . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 193 (2), pp. 746-771. ISSN 0024-4082.
    • Wills, S. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Barrett, P. (2021) . Palaeontology 64 (1), pp. 75-99. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Collins, Sally and Underwood, Charlie J. (2021) . Palaeontology 64 (4), pp. 489-504. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Johanson, Z. and Manzanares, E. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Clark, B. and Fernandez, V. and Smith, M. (2021) . Journal of Anatomy 239 (3), pp. 704-719. ISSN 0021-8782.
    • Feichtinger, I. and Adnet, S. and Cuny, G. and Guinot, G. and Kriwet, J. and Neubauer, T. and Pollerspock, J. and Shimada, K. and Straube, N. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Vullo, R. and Harzhauser, M. (2021) . Science 374 (6573), ISSN 0036-8075.
    • Stumpf, S. and Etches, S. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Kriwet, J. (2021) . PeerJ 2021 (9:e113), ISSN 2167-8359.
    • Smith, M. and Manzanares, E. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Healy, C. and Clark, B. and Johanson, Z. (2020) . Journal of Fish Biology 97 (1), pp. 16-27. ISSN 1095-8649.
    • Johanson, Z. and Manzanares, E. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Clark, B. and Fernandez, V. and Smith, M. (2020) . Integrative and Comparative Biology 60 (3), pp. 630-643. ISSN 1540-7063.
    • Villalobos-segura, Eduardo and Underwood, Charlie J. (2020) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 40 (3), pp. e1777147. ISSN 0272-4634.
    • Rasch, L. J. and Cooper, R.L and Underwood, Charlie J. and Dillard, W. A and Thiery, A. P and Fraser, G. J. (2020) . Developmental Biology 466 (1-2), pp. 59-72. ISSN 0012-1606.
    • Fraser, G.J. and Standing, A. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Thiery, A.P. (2020) . Integrative and Comparative Biology 60 (3), pp. 644-655. ISSN 1540-7063.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Claeson, K.M. (2019) . Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 130 (3-4), pp. 345-354. ISSN 0016-7878.
    • Jambura, P. and Kindlimann, R. and L贸pez-Romero, F. and Marmara, G. and Pfaff, K. and Stumpf, S. and Turtscher, J. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, David and Kriwet, J. (2019) . Scientific Reports 9 (9652), ISSN 2045-2322.
    • Smith, M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Goral, T. and Healy, C. and Johanson, Z. (2019) . Zoological Letters 5, pp. 11. ISSN 2056-306X.
    • Wills, S. and Bernard, E.L. and Brewer, P. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D. (2019) . Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 130 (2), pp. 170-186. ISSN 0016-7878.
    • Villalobos-Segura, E. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D. and Claeson, K. (2019) . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology ISSN 1477-2019.
    • Villalobos-Segura, E. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. (2019) . Papers in Palaeontology 7 (1), pp. 353-376. ISSN 2056-2799.
    • Meredith Smith, M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Clark, B. and Kriwet, J. and Johanson, Z. (2018) . Journal of Anatomy 232, pp. 891-907. ISSN 0021-8782.
    • Smith, M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Clark, B. and Kriwet, J. and Johanson, Z. (2018) . Journal of Anatomy 232, pp. 891-907. ISSN 0021-8782.
    • Jambura, P. and Pfaff, C. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D. and Kriwet, J. (2018) . PLoS One 13 (8), ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Guinot, G. and Adnet, S. and Shimada, K. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Siversson, M. and Ward, D. and Kriwet, J. and Cappetta, H. (2018) . Zootaxa 4461 (1), pp. 118-126. ISSN 1175-5326.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, David (2018) . The Geological Curator 10 (10), pp. 617-631. ISSN 0144-5294.
    • Smith, M.M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Fraser, G.J. (2017) . Infocus Magazine 45, pp. 16-23. ISSN 1750-4740.
    • Belben, R. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Johanson, Z. and Twitchett, R. (2017) . PLoS One ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Kolmann, M. and Ward, D. (2017) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 37 (3), pp. e1293068. ISSN 0272-4634.
    • Van Vliet, H.J. and Schulp, A. and El-Kheir, G. and Paijmans, T.M. and Bosselaers, M. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2017) . Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 62 (3), pp. 509-525. ISSN 0567-7920.
    • Dean, M.N. and Bizzarro, J.J. and Clark, B. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Johanson, Z. (2017) . Royal Society Open Science 4, ISSN 2054-5703.
    • Rasch, L. and Cooper, R. and Martin, K. and Metscher, B. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Fraser, G. (2016) . Developmental Biology 415 (2), pp. 347-370. ISSN 0012-1606.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Johanson, Z. and Smith, M.M. (2016) . Royal Society Open Science 3, ISSN 2054-5703.
    • Viriot, L. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Johanson, Z. and Welten, M. and Metscher, B. and Rasch, L.J. and Fraser, G.J. and Smith, M.M. (2015) . PLoS One 10 (4), pp. e0122553. ISSN 1932-6203.
    • Smith, M.M. and Riley, A. and Fraser, G.J. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Welten, M. and Kriwet, J. and Pfaff, C. and Johanson, Z. (2015) . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282 (1816), ISSN 0962-8452.
    • Welten, M. and Smith, M.M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Johanson, Z. (2015) . Royal Society Open Science 2 (9), pp. 150189. ISSN 2054-5703.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Smith, M.M. and Johanson, Z. (2015) . Geological Society Special Publication 430, ISSN 0305-8719.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. and Guinot, G. (2015) . Geological Society, London, Special Publications 430, ISSN 0305-8719.
    • Welton, M. and Smith, M.M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Johanson, Z. (2015) . Royal Society Open Science 2, ISSN 2054-5703.
    • Roberts, Gerald P. and Meschis, M. and Houghton, S. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Briant, Rebecca M. (2013) . Quaternary Science Reviews 78, pp. 169-187. ISSN 0277-3791.
    • Guinot, G. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Cappetta, H. and Ward, D.J. (2013) . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 11 (6), pp. 589-671. ISSN 1477-2019.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and King, C. and Steurbaut, E. (2013) . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 392, pp. 138-145. ISSN 0031-0182.
    • Smith, M.M. and Johanson, Z. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Diekwisch, T.G.H. (2013) . Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology 25 (2), pp. 127-142. ISSN 0891-2963.
    • Claeson, K.M. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. (2013) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33 (5), pp. 1019-1036. ISSN 0272-4634.
    • Guinot, Guillaume and Underwood, Charlie J. and Cappetta, H. and Ward, D.J. (2012) . Palaeontology 55 (3), pp. 529-551. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Schlogl, J. (2012) . Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 58 (3), pp. 487-509. ISSN 0567-7920.
    • Guinot, Guillaume and Underwood, Charlie J. and Cappetta, H. and Ward, D.J. (2012) . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 10 (3), pp. 1-30. ISSN 1477-2019.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Gunter, G.C. (2012) . Caribbean Journal of Earth Science 44, pp. 25-30. ISSN 0799-0901.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. and King, C. and Antar, S.M. and Zalmout, I.S. and Gingerich, P.D. (2011) . Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 122 (1), pp. 47-66. ISSN 0016-7878.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Goswami, A. and Prasad, G.V.R. and Verma, O. and Flynn, J.J. (2011) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31 (3), pp. 539-552. ISSN 0272-4634.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. (2011) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31 (3), pp. 707-711. ISSN 0272-4634.
    • Claeson, K.M. and Ward, D.J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2010) . Comptes Rendus Palevol 9 (6-7), pp. 283-287. ISSN 1631-0683.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Cumbaa, S.L. (2010) . Palaeontology 53 (4), pp. 903-944. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Hunter, Aaron W. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2010) . Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (1), pp. 174-176. ISSN 0567-7920.
    • Houghton, S.L. and Roberts, Gerald P. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Papanikolaou, Ioannis D. and Cowie, P.A. and van Calsteren, P. and Wigley, T. and Cooper, F.J. and McArthur, J.M. (2009) . Jourmal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth 114, ISSN 0148-0227.
    • Rees, J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2008) . Palaeontology 51 (1), pp. 117-147. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. (2008) . Palaeontology 51 (3), pp. 509-536. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Kennedy, W.J. and Gale, A.S. and Ward, D.J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2008) . Bulletin Sciences de la Terre 78, pp. 149-177. ISSN 0374-6291.
    • Donovan, S.K. and Fearnhead, F.E. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2007) . Lethaia 40 (3), pp. 233-236. ISSN 0024-1164.
    • Cooper, F.J. and Roberts, G.P. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2007) . Geophysical Research Letters 34 (14), ISSN 0094-8276.
    • Sweetman, Steven C. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2006) . Palaeontology 49 (2), pp. 457-465. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (2006) . Paleobiology 32 (2), pp. 215-235. ISSN 0094-8373.
    • Rees, J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2006) . Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Earth Sciences 96 (4), pp. 351-363. ISSN 1755-6910.
    • Brenchley, P.J. and Marshall, J.D. and Harper, D.A.T. and Buttler, C.J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2006) . Geological Journal 41 (1), pp. 1-22. ISSN 0072-1050.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. (2004) . Palaeontology 47 (3), pp. 447-501. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (2004) . Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 55 (2), pp. 107-118. ISSN 0044-0604.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (2004) . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 203, pp. 107-126. ISSN 0031-0182.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Mitchell, S.F. (2004) . Cainozoic Research 3, pp. 157-165. ISSN 1570-0399.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Rees, J. (2002) . Special Papers in Palaeontology 68, pp. 107-19. ISSN 0038-6804.
    • Rees, J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2002) . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22, pp. 471-479.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Rees, J. (2002) . Special Papers in Palaeontology 68, pp. 1-19. ISSN 0038-6804.
    • Brenchley, P.J. and Marshall, J.D. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2001) . Geological Journal 36 (3-4), pp. 329-340. ISSN 0072-1050.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Mitchell, S.F. (2000) . Caribbean Journal of Earth Science 34, pp. 25-30. ISSN 0799-0901.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Mitchell, S.F. and Veltkamp, K.J. (1999) . Palaeontology 42 (2), pp. 287-302. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Mitchell, S.F. and Underwood, Charlie J. (1999) . Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 52 (3), pp. 277-296. ISSN 0044-0604.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Mitchell, S.F. (1999) . Special Papers in Palaeontology 60, pp. 9-59. ISSN 0038-6804.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Mitchell, S.F. and Veltkamp, K.J. (1999) . Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 52, pp. 269-274. ISSN 0044-0604.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Mitchell, S. (1999) . Geological Magazine 136 (6), pp. 681-696. ISSN 0016-7568.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Deynoux, M. and Ghienne, J.F. (1998) . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 142, pp. 91-103. ISSN 0031-0182.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (1998) . Lethaia 31, pp. 33-41.
    • Mitchell, S. and Underwood, Charlie J. (1998) . Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society 52 (1), pp. 107-112. ISSN 0044-0604.
    • Poulton, S.W. and Bottrell, S.H. and Underwood, Charlie J. (1998) . Sedimentology 45 (5), pp. 875-888. ISSN 0037-0746.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Deynoux, M. and Ghienne, J.-F. (1998) . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 142 (3-4), pp. 91-105. ISSN 0031-0182.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Crowley, S.F. and Marshall, J.D. and Brenchley, P.J. (1997) . Journal of the Geological Society 154 (4), pp. 709-718. ISSN 0016-7649.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Crowley, S. and Marshall, J. and Brenchley, P. (1997) . Journal of the Geological Society 154, pp. 709-718. ISSN 0016-7649.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (1995) . Palaeontology 38, pp. 619-625. ISSN 0031-0239.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (1995) . Journal of Paleontology 69 (3), pp. 599-602. ISSN 0022-3360.
    • Benton, M.J. and Underwood, Charlie J. (1994) . Irish Journal of Earth Sciences 13, pp. 91-93. ISSN 0790-1763.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Bottrell, S.H. (1994) . Geological Magazine 131 (3), pp. 315-327. ISSN 0016-7568.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (1994) . Geological Magazine 131 (4), pp. 485-498. ISSN 0016-7568.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (1993) . Lethaia 26, pp. 189-202. ISSN 0024-1164.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (1992) . Palaios 7 (2), pp. 178-186. ISSN 0883-1351.

    Book section

    • Smith, M.M. and LeBlanc, A. and Underwood, Charles and Johanson, Z. (2023) . In: Chen, Donglei (ed.) Odontodes. Boca Raton, U.S.: CRC Press. pp. 142-178. ISBN 9781032065151.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. (2020) . In: Martill, D.M. (ed.) Fossils of the Kimmeridge Clay Part 2 (vertebrate). Palaeontological Association. pp. 14-32. ISBN 9780901702746.
    • Richter, M. and Underwood, Charlie J. (2019) . In: Johanson, Z. and Richter, M. and Underwood, Charlie J. (eds.) Evolution and Development of Fishes. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781107179448.
    • Cumbaa, S.L. and Underwood, Charlie J. and Schr枚der-Adams, C.J. (2013) . In: Arratia, G. and Schultze, H.-P. and Wilson, M.V.H. (eds.) Mesozoic Fishes 5: Global Diversity and Evolution. Munich, Germany: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. pp. 509-524. ISBN 9783899371598.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Paul, C.R.C. (2010) . In: Lord, A.R. and Davis, P.G. (eds.) Fossils from the Lower Lias of the Dorset Coast. Field Guide to Fossils. London, UK: Palaeontological Association. pp. 88-100. ISBN 9781444337747.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D. (2008) . In: Arratia, G. (ed.) Mesozoic Fishes: Homology and Phylogeny. Mesozoic Fishes. Munich, Germany: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. pp. 433-442. ISBN 9783899370805.
    • Underwood, Charlie J. and Ward, D.J. (2004) . In: Tintori, A. and Arratia, G. (eds.) Mesozoic Fishes 3- Systematics, Palaeoenvironments and Biodiversity.. M眉nchen: Verlag. pp. 111-122. ISBN 3899370538.
  • Business and community

    Business and community

    Media

    I am happy to receive enquiries from the media on the following topics:

    • Sharks and rays, especially fossil but also modern
    • General palaeontology, especially in southern UK, Morocco and Egypt

    Outreach

    I frequently work at the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival

    I regularly do talks on fossils and evolution to local primary schools