05/09/2024
Neotropical tetras of the family Characidae form the largest and most taxonomically complex clade within the order Characiformes. In this study, researchers propose a new classification of former Characidae into four new taxonomic families: Spintherobolidae, Stevardiidae (nine sub-families), Characidae (five sub-families), and Acestrorhamphidae (15 sub-families).
Paywall - https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-abstract/202/1/zlae101/7748269
This is a major work, with a lot to unpack. This study represents the largest phylogeny of Neotropical tetras of the families Acestrorhamphidae, Characidae, Spintherobolidae, and Stevardiidae to date in terms of taxa and characters. Together with the new (sub)families, there are many nomenclature changes at the species level proposed, and some great discussion on the remarkable fishes we know as tetras.
The authors note that the new phylogeny opens avenues for new systematic reviews and redefinitions of included genera.
Full list of species level changes are in this post and include many tetras we know in the hobby - https://www.facebook.com/FishInTheNews/posts/pfbid02nBUnXnc7fmx9bGczZJUAzhSuupTUYUcMqnbgxHmBpxaaCUSSLBPxvMiPLxK3vn7gl
𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲
Phylogenomics of Characidae, a hyper-diverse Neotropical freshwater fish lineage, with a phylogenetic classification including four families (Teleostei: Characiformes)
𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Bruno F Melo, Rafaela P Ota, Ricardo C Benine, Fernando R Carvalho, Flavio C T Lima, George M T Mattox, Camila S Souza, Tiago C Faria, Lais Reia, Fabio F Roxo, Martha Valdez-Moreno, Thomas J Near, Claudio Oliveira, Phylogenomics of Characidae, a hyper-diverse Neotropical freshwater fish lineage, with a phylogenetic classification including four families (Teleostei: Characiformes), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 202, Issue 1, September 2024, zlae101, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae101
𝗔𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁
Neotropical tetras of the family Characidae form the largest and most taxonomically complex clade within the order Characiformes. Previous phylogenetic relationships concur on the recognition of four major subclades, whereas knowledge on intergeneric and interspecific relationships remains largely incomplete or nonexistent.
We sampled 575 specimens of 494 species and 123 genera classified in Characidae, generated new molecular data of ultraconserved elements (UCEs), and used likelihood and Bayesian analyses. The phylogeny (1348 UCE loci: 538 472 bp) yielded clades with unprecedented resolution at species- and genus-levels, allowing us to propose a new classification of former Characidae into four families: Spintherobolidae, Stevardiidae, Characidae, and Acestrorhamphidae.
The family Stevardiidae includes nine subfamilies: Landoninae, Xenurobryconinae, Glandulocaudinae, Argopleurinae, Hemibryconinae, Stevardiinae, Planaltininae, Creagrutinae, and Diapominae.
The family Characidae includes five subfamilies: Aphyocharacinae, Cheirodontinae, Exodontinae, Tetragonopterinae, and Characinae.
The family Acestrorhamphidae congregates 15 subfamilies: Oxybryconinae, Trochilocharacinae, Stygichthyinae, Megalamphodinae, Stichonodontinae, unnamed subfamily, Stethaprioninae, Pristellinae, Jupiabinae, Tyttobryconinae, Hyphessobryconinae, Thayeriinae, Rhoadsiinae, Grundulinae, and Acestrorhamphinae.
The phylogeny resolves intergeneric relationships and supports revalidation of 𝑀𝑦𝑥𝑖𝑜𝑝𝑠, 𝑀𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑚𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑠, 𝑅𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑧𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑎, 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑠, synonymy of 𝐴𝑝ℎ𝑦𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑒, 𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑦𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑥, and 𝑃𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑠, and expansion of 𝐶𝑦𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑔𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟, 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑖𝑚𝑎, 𝐷𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛, 𝐻𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑎, 𝐻𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑠, 𝐵𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜, 𝐶𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑏𝑟𝑦𝑐𝑜𝑛, and 𝑃𝑠𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑑𝑜𝑑𝑜𝑛. The phylogeny opens avenues for new systematic reviews and redefinitions of included genera.
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁
Phylogenetic relationships of the major clades of Spintherobolidae, Stevardiidae, Characidae, and Acestrorhamphidae based on the 75% complete matrix of 1348 ultraconserved elements (575 taxa; 538 472 bp).
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Linnean Society of London.
