Morphology‐based phylogeny of Eigenmanniinae Mago‐Leccia, 1978 (Teleostei: Gymnotiformes: Sternopygidae), with a new classification. (23rd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dutra, Guilherme Moreira; Peixoto, Luiz Antônio Wanderley; Abrahão, Vitor Pimenta; Wosiacki, Wolmar Benjamin; Menezes, Naércio Aquino; de Santana, Carlos David
• Is Part Of: Journal of zoological systematics and evolutionary research. Volume 59:Number 8(2021)
• Page Start: 2010
• Page End: 2059
• Publication Date: 2021-10-23
• Subjects: electric fishes -- maximum parsimony -- new genus -- quantitative characters -- systematics; Animals -- Classification -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 578.012
• DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12535
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0947-5745

Abstract

Abstract: We advance on the knowledge of Eigenmanniinae by proposing a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships based on the parsimony analysis of a diverse set of 144 anatomical characters, 12% of them treated as quantitative and 88% treated as qualitative (8% external morphology, 51% osteology, 21% myology, and 8% neuroanatomy). Thirty‐seven of 45 valid species of Eigenmanniinae are examined in the study, including the incertae sedis species " Eigenmannia " goajira . The final tree yields new insights on species relationships, thus, producing a new classification to Eigenmanninae . Our analysis recovered the monophyly of Eigenmanniinae, Archolaemus, Eigenmannia, and Rhabdolichops . Eigenmannia is proposed as monophyletic based on four morphological synapomorphies, one of which exclusive to the genus. Japigny is proposed to be the sister group of all remaining Eigenmanniinae and " E ." goajira to be the sister group of Archolaemus . The hypothesis of monophyly of Distocyclus including D . conirostris and D . guchereauae is rejected. Consequently, D . guchereauae is included in Eigenmannia, and a new genus is established to include " E ." goajira . A taxonomic key to all genera is provided. In addition, this study highlights the critical role played by a diverse set of anatomical and quantitative characters without discretization on phylogenetic reconstructions. Abstract : We advance on the taxonomic knowledge of Eigenmanniinae by examining most of its species richness and building a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships based on the parsimony analysis of 144 anatomical characters. As result, a new classification was proposed. This study highlights the crucial role that a diverse set of anatomical characters play at different hierarchical levels in phylogenetic reconstructions.