Molecular systematics of the New World clingfish genus Gobiesox (Teleostei: Gobiesocidae) and the origin of a freshwater clade

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships between marine and freshwater members of the New World clingfish genus Gobiesox are investigated using both mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data. Phylogenetic hypotheses are derived from Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses of a six-gene concatenated data set (2 mitochondrial and 4 nuclear markers; 4098bp). Gobiesox is paraphyletic, due to the inclusion of Pherallodiscus, in phylogenetic hypotheses resulting from all analyses and its two included species are reassigned to Gobiesox. Within the expanded genus Gobiesox, the freshwater species (G. cephalus, G. juradoensis, G. mexicanus and G. potamius) represent a monophyletic group that is nested inside of a paraphyletic marine group. Based on the monophyly of the freshwater clingfishes, a habitat transition from marine to freshwater is inferred to have occurred only once in the evolutionary history of the group (potentially in the mid-Miocene). Gobiesox is obtained as part of a larger clade of New World clingfishes, including also members of Acyrtops, Acyrtus, Arcos, Rimicola, Sicyases and Tomicodon equivalent to the subfamily Gobiesocinae. The phylogenetic hypotheses obtained are discussed briefly in relation to the two alternative classifications currently in use simultaneously for the Gobiesocidae. A rediagnosis and list of included species is provided for Gobiesox.