RESUMEN
The taxonomic status of the keeled back mullets (Teleostei: Mugilidae) has been reinvestigated. Two nominal mugilid species having keeled backs from East Asia: Mugil lauvergnii Eydoux & Souleyet, 1850 and Mugil affinis Günther, 1861 have been re-evaluated through examination of the holotypes and fresh specimens. Comparison of morpho-meristic characters of the holotypes shows that both species are identical. Phylogenetic analysis based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (CO1) confirmed morphological data by highlighting presence of a single clade from East Asia. Mugil lauvergnii (=Planiliza lauvergnii) is thus the sole keeled back mullet from East Asia and a senior synonym of Mugil affinis (=Planiliza affinis). The taxonomic status of two other keeled back mullets, Planiliza carinata and P. klunzingeri, is also contentious due to their similar morphology. Meristic and morphometric variation as well as sequence divergence between the two species are limited but phylogenetic analyses delineate well-supported clades consistent with biogeography and currently accepted taxonomy. Planiliza carinata and P. klunzingeri share a recent common ancestor in a Maximum Likelihood tree, with separate distribution ranges while P. lauvergnii formed a paraphyletic lineage. Based on present findings, we suggest maintenance of the taxonomic distinction of P. klunzingeri and P. carinata and discuss its evolutionary significance.
Asunto(s)
Smegmamorpha , Animales , Filogenia , Peces/genética , Evolución Biológica , MitocondriasRESUMEN
The taxonomic status of the Bay of Bengal nominal sparid species Coius datnia Hamilton, 1822 and Acanthopagrus longispinnis (Valenciennes, 1830) are reviewed and investigated both morphologically and genetically. Because of inadequate description and no type specimen, Coius datnia has recently been considered to belong to Sparidentex, a genus without molarifom teeth. Critical examination of the original description and examination of specimens from the type locality and adjacent areas reveal that Coius datnia belongs to Acanthopagrus, a genus with an inner series of molars. Furthermore, examination of specimens previously recognized as Acanthopagrus longispinnis (Valenciennes 1830), and recent collection of fresh specimens from lower Ganges estuary in Bangladesh, show that morphological differences between Acanthopagrus datnia and A. longispinnis are minor, and they are genetically identical. The longer second anal-fin spine in A. longispinnis (>21% SL) is, in fact, a feature of some younger A. datnia. Accordingly, A. datnia is regarded as a senior synonym of A. longispinnis, and is distinguished from its congeners by the presence of 12 dorsal-fin spines (rarely 11 or 13), 3½ scale rows between the fifth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line, pelvic and anal-fins pale yellow to yellow with black streaks present in the interradial membranes of anal-fin rays, and caudal fin grey or yellowish grey. A neotype (and neogenotype) has been designated for Acanthopagrus datnia (Hamilton, 1822).
Asunto(s)
Perciformes , AnimalesRESUMEN
Scolopsis igcarensis Mishra, Biswas, Russell, Satpathy Selvanayagam, 2013 was described from specimens collected from coastal waters of southern India and Sri Lanka. A comparison of recently collected specimens from Bangladesh, initially identified as S. igcarensis, with Scolopsis vosmeri (Bloch, 1792) showed morphological differences between the two species are minor, and that specimens of S. igcarensis in fact represent juvenile and subadult colour forms of S. vosmeri. Underwater and aquarium observations, as well as molecular data based on the COI barcode region, support this conclusion. Accordingly, S. igcarensis is regarded as a junior synonym of S. vosmeri, which is redescribed herein. Phylogenetic analysis of COI barcodes of Scolopsis specimens produced in this study, together with those available from GenBank, indicate S. vosmeri is part of a species complex which includes two additional cryptic sister species that require further taxonomic investigation.
