Phylogenetic interrelationships, taxonomy, and reductive evolution in the Neotropical electric fish genus Hypopygus (Teleostei, Ostariophysi, Gymnotiformes)

    Authors

    C. D. De Santana;W. G. R. Crampton

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Zool. J. Linn. Soc.

    Keywords

    Amazon basin; Hypopomidae; miniaturization; Neotropics; Stegostenopos; FRESH-WATER FISHES; SEQUENCE DATA; MINIATURIZATION; CHARACIFORMES; CLASSIFICATION; COMMUNICATION; PAEDOCYPRIS; DISCHARGES; MORPHOLOGY; OSTEOLOGY; Zoology

    Abstract

    A phylogenetic reconstruction of the Neotropical electric fish genus Hypopygus based on 47 parsimony-informative morphological characters is presented. A series of synapomorphies support the hypothesis of monophyly of Hypopygus, and partially resolve species-level relationships within the genus. Hypopygus species are recognized here as miniaturized fishes based on two criteria; first, a derived condition of diminutive body size, and; second, the presence of a suite of reductive morphological characters, including partial or total losses, simplifications, and reductions of the anal-fin rays, scales, cranial bones, and laterosensory canal system. Reductive characters associated with miniaturization comprise 45% of the total number of characters in the phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus. Miniaturization and reductive morphological evolution in Hypopygus are discussed here in the phylogenetic context. A taxonomic revision of Hypopygus is presented, in which five new species are described, two species previously assigned to the genus are redescribed, and a single known species of Stegostenopos is redescribed and included in Hypopygus as a junior synonym. Distribution maps and a key for all eight valid species of Hypopygus are provided, based on the examination of 5014 catalogued museum specimens. (C) 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 163, 1096-1156. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00736.

    Journal Title

    Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society

    Volume

    163

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1096

    Last Page

    1156

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000297946100006

    ISSN

    0024-4082

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