Sven O. Kullander

Molecular phylogenetic interrelationships of the south Asian cyprinid genera Danio, Devario and Microrasbora (Teleostei, Cyprinidae, Danioninae)

Molecular analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences from 159 species of the family Cyprinidae supports the subfamily Danioninae, of which Rasborinae is shown to be a junior synonym. Analysis of combined cytochrome b and a fragment of the nuclear rhodopsin gene from 68 species, including 43 species representing the subfamily Danioninae, supports phylogenetic distinctness of Danio and Devario. In the combined molecular analysis Microrasbora rubescens, Chela, Laubuca, Devario, and Inlecypris form a clade with M. gatesi, M. nana and M. kubotai being in sister group position to the rest. The sister group of this Devario clade is Danio. Inlecypris is synonymized with Devario. Microdevario, new genus, is proposed for M. gatesi, M. nana and M. kubotai, supported by morphological characters. In the cytochrome b analysis, M. rubescens falls outside Devario, and there is no morphological support for including M. rubescens in Devario. In the cytochrome b analysis Esomus + Danionella is the sister group of Danio and Devario clades, whereas in individual rhodopsin and combined analyses Esomus is the sister group of Danio, and of Danio and the Devario clade, respectively. Sundadanio presents at least one strong morphological synapomorphy with Danio, but is positioned in molecular trees either as a member of the Cyprininae or as sister group of the remaining Danioninae. In the morphological analysis, small‐sized species grouped together based on shared reductions that are not necessarily synapomorphies. In the molecular analysis, small‐sized species such as Danionella and Sundadanio possess long branches and their position varies, but they did not group together. This suggests morphological homoplasy, but phylogenetic positions are not well supported in the molecular analyses

Character‐ and tree‐based delimitation of species in the ‘Cichlasoma’ facetum group (Teleostei, Cichlidae) with the description of a new genus

Abstract The ‘Cichlasoma’ facetum group is part of the taxonomically complex group of Neotropical cichlid fishes of the tribe Heroini. Many species groups and unplaced species of heroines are still left without a generic name following the revision of the genus Cichlasoma. We describe here the ‘Cichlasoma’ facetum group as a new genus, Australoheros, and provide evidence for its monophyly based on phylogenetic analyses of morphological and mtDNA characters. Australoheros is morphologically characterized by the lowest values in meristic characters among heroines and by three apomorphic characters in coloration pattern. In addition to the three described species of Australoheros, our results of species delimitation based on a combination of tree‐ and character‐based approaches identify seven putatively new species of Australoheros. Several coding schemes of morphological characters are used to recover the intrageneric relationships within the genus, resulting in very similar topologies. Discovery of additional species within the genus is expected once material from the whole distribution area is studied.

Fish species – how and why

It is argued, with selected examples from freshwaterfish systematics, that species should be viewed as anexpression of self-perpetuated clustered variation innature, conforming to the phylogenetic speciesconcept. The importance of species lies in thefunctional and structural significance of theirdiagnostic characters. Species can be nested by theircharacters into a tree diagram (phylogeny) orhierarchical alignment structure (classification) ofcharacter distribution, which may be taken to reflectevolution, the unifying theory of organismaldiversification. The phylogenetic species concept,which emphasizes recognition of a pattern ofvariation, describes better than any other proposedconcept the units called species by systematists.Other concepts are based on processes and normally donot permit recognition of particular taxa. Specieshave unique histories, and speciation may proceed bydifferent mechanisms. Whereas it may be postulatedthat speciation entails an irreversible change in thegenetic structure of taxa, recognized by phenotypicexpression and apparently also maintained to a largeextent by selection for a particular phenotype,species recognition must remain independent ofassumptions about species history and spatialdistribution. Species are monophyletic taxa and thespecies category does not differ significantly inphylogenetic regard from other systematic categories.Species as such are not necessarily evolutionaryunits. It is recommended to apply species names withreference to the diagnostic characters of the speciesand to abandon the type specimen described by theInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature as anomenclatural reference unit.

Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rasbora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Liao, T. Y., Kullander, S. O. & Fang, F. (2009). Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rasbora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).—Zoologica Scripta, 39, 155–176.

Crenicichla chicha, a new species of pike cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the rio Papagaio, upper rio Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Crenicichla chicha, new species, occurs in clear, fast-running waters with rocky substrates in the rio Papagaio and tributaries. It is distinguished from all other Crenicichla species by the combination of two character states: infraorbitals 3 and 4 co-ossified (vs. separated) and 66-75 scales in the row immediately above to that containing the lower lateral line (E1 row scales). Crenicichla chicha shares a smooth preopercular margin, co-ossification of infraorbitals 3 and 4, and some color features with C. hemera from the adjacent rio Aripuana drainage, rio Madeira basin. It differs from Crenicichla hemera in more E1 scales (66-75 vs. 58-65) and presence of a conspicuous black narrow stripe running from infraorbital 3 obliquely caudoventrad toward the preopercular margin vs. a rounded and faint suborbital marking present on infraorbitals 3-4. Examination of the type series and additional material from the rio Aripuana confirms that Crenicichla guentheri Ploeg, 1991 is a junior subjective synonym of C. hemera Kullander, 1990.

Two new species of Apistogramma Regan (Teleostei: Cichlidae) from the rio Trombetas, Pará State, Brazil

Apistogramma angayuara is described from the rio Trombetas close to the cachoeira Vira Mundo where it is found in association with rapids. It is assigned to the A. pertensis species group, distinguished by the following characters in combination: three prominent stripes composed of dark spots along the sides of the abdomen, 2 vs. 3 postlachrymal infraorbital pores, 5 vs. 4 dentary pores, low dorsal fin in adult males, and presence of a caudal spot. It is the smallest species of Apistogramma reported so far, with the largest male 24.7 mm SL and the largest female 22.7 mm SL, and the first cichlid species found with a significant proportion of rhizopods in the stomach content. Apistogramma salpinction is described from lentic habitats at the margin of road BR-163, circa 70 km from Cachoeira Porteira village, in a swamp most probably connected to the igarape Caxipacore. It is compared to members of the Apistogramma cacatuoides group with which it shares prolonged anterior dorsal fin lappets and marginal caudal fin streamers in adult males. It is distinguished from all other species of Apistogramma by the color pattern which includes a lateral band and abdominal stripes that become darker and have much lighter interspaces on the caudal peduncle, and a caudal spot that is divided into elongated blotches continuing the lateral band and upper two abdominal stripes, respectively. Apistogramma angayuara e descrita para o rio Trombetas proximo a cachoeira Vira Mundo, onde e encontrada associada com corredeiras. E a menor especie de Apistogramma ate agora registrada, com o maior macho atingindo 24,7 mm CP, e a maior femea 22,7 mm CP. Trata-se do primeiro registro de uma especie de ciclideo com grande quantidade de rizopodos em seu conteudo estomacal. Apistogramma angayuara pertence ao grupo A. pertensis e difere das demais especies deste grupo pela seguinte combinacao de caracteres: tres conspicuas series de pontos escuros ao longo da regiao abdominal, 2 vs. 3 poros infra-orbitais pos-lacrimais, e 5 vs. 4 poros dentarios, nadadeira dorsal baixa em machos adultos, e presenca de uma mancha caudal grande. Apistogramma salpinction e descrita de habitats lenticos localizados na margem da BR-163, cerca de 70 km da vila de Cachoeira Porteira, em um alagadico que provavelmente esta conectado ao igarape Caxipacore, e e semelhante a membros do grupo Apistogramma cacatuoides com o qual compartilha as membranas anteriores da nadadeira dorsal prolongadas e faixas marginais na nadadeira caudal em machos adultos. Entretanto, difere pelo padrao de colorido que inclui uma faixa lateral e listras abdominais mais escuras e com interespacos mais claros no pedunculo caudal, que se prolongam sobre a base da nadadeira caudal em uma pinta caudal dividida em manchas alongadas continuando a faixa lateral e duas listras abdominais, respectivamente.

Review of seven-spined Polynemus species (Perciformes: Polynemidae) with designation of a neotype for Polynemus paradiseus Linnaeus, 1758

Abstract A taxonomic review of seven-spined Polynemus species recognizes two species as valid: P. hornadayi Myers, 1936, currently known only from western Sarawak, Kalimantan, Malaysia, and P. paradiseus Linnaeus, 1758, distributed from India to Thailand and regarded as a senior synonym of P. aureus Hamilton, 1822, P. longifilis Cuvier in Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1829, P. risua Hamilton, 1822, and P. toposui Hamilton, 1822. Polynemus hornadayi differs from P. paradiseus in having a strongly protruded occipital profile (vs. nearly straight in the latter), lower counts of anal fin soft rays (mode 11 vs. 12) and gill rakers (26 vs. 32 or 33), higher counts of pectoral fin rays (18 vs. 17), scales above and below the lateral line (11 and 18 vs. 7 and 11, respectively), and pored lateral line scales (94 vs. 70), the fifth pectoral filament longest (vs. sixth), the fourth pectoral filament longer (extending well beyond the posterior central margin of the caudal fin vs. not reaching posterior central margin), a longer pectoral fin ray (posterior tip of pectoral fin reaching to midpoint of anal fin base vs. not reaching), a deeper maxilla posterior margin (mean 5% of SL vs. 4% of SL), and a well-developed swimbladder (vs. absent).

Cichlid Fishes from the La Plata Basin. Part V. Description of Aequidens plagiozonatus sp.n. (Teleostei, Cichlidae) from the Paraguay River System

Aequidens plagiozonatus sp.n. is described from 49 specimens collected in the northern Paraguay river system. It is the only known species of Aequidens Eigenmann & Bray in the La Plata basin. Distinguishing characteristics include the slanting vertical bars on the sides, discontinuous horizontal lateral band, immaculate or very sparsely dotted caudal fin and short pectoral fin.

Biotoecus Eigenmann and Kennedy (Teleostei: Cichlidae): description of a new species from the Orinoco basin and revised generic diagnosis

Biotoecus dicentrarchus n.sp. is described from the upper and middle Rio Orinoco drainage in Colombia and Venezuela. The species is distinguished from all other cichlids by having only two anal fin spines and from its sole congener, the Amazonian Biotoecus opercularis (Steindachner), also by dorsal fin shape and count, colour pattern, more reduced dentary lateralis canal and lack of anguloarticular lateralis canal. A revised diagnosis of Biotoecus includes: (1) lack of interhypohyal ligament, (2) reduced lateral line system involving three instead of more lacrimal foramina, loss of infraorbital ossicles, fragmentary dentary canal, loss of distal extrascapular, flank lateral lines with pored instead of tubed scales except occasionally the first scale in the upper lateral line, loss of accessory caudal fin lateral lines, (3) long instead of short or diffuse anteromedial palatovomerine ligament, (4) extraordinarily long caudal peduncle (23·3–26·3% of SL) containing 9 vertebrae, and (5) dorsal fin count VII–I...

Cichlid Fishes from the La Plata Basin. Part IV. Review of the Apistogramma Species, with Description of a New Species (Teleostei, Cichlidae)

Apistogramma inconspicua sp.n. is described from the Rio Candclaria in the Rio Guaporé drainage in Bolivia, and recorded also from Cáceres on the Rio Paraguay in Brazil. The new species is closely related to the Paraguayan species A. commbrae (Regan) and an undescribed species in the Guaporé drainage system. These species share a specialized feature in the colour pattern, viz. an expanded vertical bar on the caudal peduncle which it confluent with the caudal spot. The now presumably complete record of Paraguayan Apistogramma species allows an analytical key to be given. Of the additional species, A. borellii (Regan) and A. trifasciata (Eigenmann & Kennedy) represent two distinct lineages. Apistogramma pleurotaenia (Regan) is probably a La Plata basin species, although no localities are known, and its relationship remain obscure. The assemblage of Paraguayan Apistogramma species reflects the heterogeneity of the Paraguayan cichlid fauna as a whole.