A molecular phylogeny for aplocheiloid fishes (Atherinomorpha, Cyprinodontiformes): the role of vicariance and the origins of annualism.

摘要: Annual aplocheiloid killifish embryos possess a rare ability among vertebrates to enter stages of developmental arrest (diapause) when subjected adverse environmental conditions. Previous morphological analyses have presented disparate hypotheses regarding the evolution intriguing life history associated with this phenomenon. We present novel hypothesis relationships based on 1,009 bp sequence data from three mitochondrial genes (cytochrome b, 12S rRNA, and 16S rRNA). Phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining, likelihood produce strongly congruent topologies. Our confirm monophyly Neotropical family Rivulidae, while demonstrating paraphyletic Old World assemblage. The basal sister group position Indo-Malaysian Madagascaran taxa relative monophyletic South American/African dichotomy indicates role vicariance in diversification these fishes spite their definition as secondary freshwater fish. distribution annualism onto topology implies single early origin for suite characters, prior divergence American African taxa. If so, then has since been lost several times during genera now residing permanent aquatic habitats. Paleoclimatic knowledge complements scenario molecular characters.