Abstract
We present a combined molecular and morphological phylogenetic analysis of the Loricariinae, with emphasis on the Harttiini (Cteniloricaria, Harttia, and Harttiella) and Farlowellini (Aposturisoma, Farlowella, Lamontichthys, Pterosturisoma, Sturisoma, and Sturisomatichthys). Character sampling comprised seven molecular markers (the mitochondrial Cytb, nd2, 12S and 16S, and the nuclear MyH6, RAG1 and RAG2) and 196 morphological characters. A total of 1,059 specimens, and 159 tissue samples were analized, representing 100 species. A Bayesian Inference analysis was performed using the concatenated data matrix, which is comprised of 6,819 characters. The Loricariinae were found to comprise the tribes (Hartiini (Loricariini, Farlowellini)), the latter two elevated from subtribes. A Maximum Parsimony analysis was also performed using the same data matrix in order to reveal phenotypical synapomorphies to diagnose each clade. Two MP trees were found with a length of 14,704 steps, consistency index of 0.29 and retention index of 0.61, which were summarized in a strict consensus tree. Harttiini includes (Harttiella (Cteniloricaria, Harttia), and Farlowellini includes (Lamontichthys (Pterosturisoma (Sturisoma (Sturisomatichthys, Farlowella)))). Aposturisoma was recovered nested within Farlowella and is synonymyzed to the latter. Sturisoma was corroborated as strictly cis-Andean, while Sturisomatichthys encompasses, besides the valid species already included in the genus, the trans-Andean species once belonging to Sturisoma sensu lato. Identification keys and phylogenetic diagnoses of family-group taxa and genera of both the Harttiini and the Farlowellini are provided.
Highlights
Siluriformes and Loricariidae diversityNeotropical fishes comprise one of the most diverse and speciose faunas of vertebrates on earth
We used the tree obtained by the Bayesian Inference (BI) analysis to propose a classification for the Loricariinae, because our data matrix has nucleotide substitution rates highly uneven between data partitions, and because several substitution models are employed among markers, when compared to the single model used for the morphological partition
Fig), and formed by two valid species, C. platystoma and C. napova. On both morphological phylogenetic studies dealing with Loricariinae [28, 39], Cteniloricaria was assumed as a synonym of Harttia
Summary
Neotropical fishes comprise one of the most diverse and speciose faunas of vertebrates on earth. According to Fricke et al [1], there are currently 35,768 valid species of fishes. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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