Exploring taxonomic diversity and biogeography of the family Nemacheilinae (Cypriniformes).

Weitao Chen,Xinhui Li,Yuefei Li,Jiping Yang

doi:10.1002/ece3.5553

Abstract

Nemacheilidae, in the superfamily Cobitoidea, is comprised of many of morphologically similar fish species that occur in Eurasian water bodies. This large group shows inconsistencies between traditional morphological taxonomy and molecular phylogenetic data. We used mitochondrial genomes, recombinase‐activating gene proteins 1 (RAG1) and the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI) to study the phylogenetic relationships among Nemacheilidae species using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood approaches. Phylogenetic analyses based on mitogenomes provided support for two clades (I and II). The mitogenomes, RAG1, and COI results indicated that several species and genera were not consistent with the traditional morphological subdivisions. The two clades inferred from mitogenomes showed clear geographical patterns. The Tibetan Plateau, Hengduan Mountains, and the Iran Plateau may act as a barrier dividing the clades. The estimated timing of clades separation (36.05 million years ago) coincides with the first uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. We conclude that the geological history of the Tibetan Plateau played a role in the diversification and distribution of the Nemacheilidae taxa. These results provided a phylogenetic framework for future studies of this complex group.

Highlights

The Nemacheilidae is a large family with more than 600 known fish species in 48 genera (Eschmeyer & Fong, 2015)
Nemacheilids are small benthic fish mainly distributed in Eurasian waters, with the exception of the genus Afronemacheilus that occurs in Africa
Morphological variation is often inconsistent with the proposed molecular phylogenetic relationships (Liu et al, 2012; Prokofiev, 2009; Sgouros, 2016; Tang, Liu, Mayden, & Xiong, 2006; Zhu, 1989)

Summary

| INTRODUCTION

The Nemacheilidae is a large family with more than 600 known fish species in 48 genera (Eschmeyer & Fong, 2015). Morphological variation is often inconsistent with the proposed molecular phylogenetic relationships (Liu et al, 2012; Prokofiev, 2009; Sgouros, 2016; Tang, Liu, Mayden, & Xiong, 2006; Zhu, 1989). Studies including morphological traits and phylogenetic inference are needed to unravel the complex species relationships among the Nemacheilidae. Previous studies focused on the phylogeny of a small number of species or specific genera within the Nemacheilidae (Bohlen & Lechtova, 2009; Jamshidi, Abdoli, Sherafatian, & Golzarianpour, 2013; Liu et al, 2012; Liu, Zhang, Tang, & Liu, 2010; Min et al, 2012; Sgouros, 2016; Tang et al, 2006; Wang et al, 2016). We discuss how the orogenic move‐ ments in Asia appear to have contributed to Nemacheilidae diversity

| METHODS AND MATERIALS

Findings

| DISCUSSION