The phylogenetic position of toadfishes (order Batrachoidiformes) in the higher ray-finned fish as inferred from partitioned Bayesian analysis of 102 whole mitochondrial genome sequences

Abstract

In a previous study based on 100 whole mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences, we sought to provide a new perspective on the ordinal relationships of higher ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii). The study left unexplored the phylogenetic position of toadfishes (order Batrachoidiformes), as data were unavailable owing to technical difficulties. In the present study, we successfully determined mitogenomic sequences for two toadfish species (Batrachomoeus trispinosus and Porichthys myriaster) and found that the difficulties resulted from unusual gene arrangements and associated repetitive non-coding sequences. Unambiguously aligned, concatenated mitogenomic sequences (13 461 bp) from 102 higher actinopterygians (excluding the ND6 gene and control region) were divided into five partitions (1st, 2nd and 3rd codon positions of the protein-coding genes, tRNA genes and rRNA genes) and partitioned Bayesian analyses were conducted. The resultant phylogenies strongly suggest that the toadfishes are not members of relatively primitive higher actinopterygians (Paracanthopterygii), but belong to a crown group of actinopterygians (Percomorpha), as was demonstrated for ophidiiform eels (Ophidiiformes) and anglerfishes (Lophiiformes) in the previous study. We propose revised limits of major unranked categories for higher actinopterygians and a new name (Berycomorpha) for a clade comprising two reciprocally paraphyletic orders (Beryciformes and Stephanoberyciformes) based on the present mitogenomic phylogenies.