Ontogeny and homology of cranial bones associated with lateral-line canals of the Senegal Bichir, Polypterus senegalus (Actinopterygii: Cladistii: Polypteriformes), with a discussion on the formation of lateral-line canal bones in fishes.

The association between lateral-line canals and skull bones in fishes has been the subject of several studies and raised a series of controversies, particularly with regard to the hypothesized role of lateral-line organs (i.e. neuromasts) in osteogenesis and the consequences for hypotheses of homology of the bones associated with lateral-line canals. Polypteridae, a group of freshwater fishes that occupies a key phylogenetic position as the most basal extant lineage of ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii), provides an interesting model for the study of the relationships between lateral-line canals and skull bones. We describe the development of bones associated with lateral-line canals in the Senegal Bichir, Polypterus senegalus, and use these data to re-address previous hypotheses of homology of skull bones of polypterids. We demonstrate that the lateral-line canals constitute a separate component of the dermatocranium that may interact with a membranodermal component, thereby forming compound bones in the adult. Differences in the interactions between these components determine the characteristics of the development of each independent bone in the skull of adult P. senegalus. Our results shed light on long-standing controversies about the identity of skull bones such as the rostral, preopercle, and sphenotic in Polypteridae, and suggest the presence of an ancestral two-component pattern of formation of bones associated with lateral-line canals in bony fishes. These findings reveal the need to re-address previous hypotheses of homology of bones associated with lateral-line canals in different groups of bony fishes, especially fossil taxa.

A review of the systematic biology of fossil and living bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha (Actinopterygii: Teleostei)

The bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha, have been the focus of a great deal of morphological, systematic, and evolutionary study, due in part to their basal position among extant teleostean fishes. This group includes the mooneyes (Hiodontidae), knifefishes (Notopteridae), the abu (Gymnarchidae), elephantfishes (Mormyridae), arawanas and pirarucu (Osteoglossidae), and the African butterfly fish (Pantodontidae). This morphologically heterogeneous group also has a long and diverse fossil record, including taxa from all continents and both freshwater and marine deposits. The phylogenetic relationships among most extant osteoglossomorph families are widely agreed upon. However, there is still much to discover about the systematic biology of these fishes, particularly with regard to the phylogenetic affinities of several fossil taxa, within Mormyridae, and the position of Pantodon. In this paper we review the state of knowledge for osteoglossomorph fishes. We first provide an overview of the diversity of Osteoglossomorpha, and then discuss studies of the phylogeny of Osteoglossomorpha from both morphological and molecular perspectives, as well as biogeographic analyses of the group. Finally, we offer our perspectives on future needs for research on the systematic biology of Osteoglossomorpha.(AU)

Os peixes da Superordem Osteoglossomorpha têm sido foco de inúmeros estudos sobre a morfologia, sistemática e evolução, particularmente devido à sua posição basal dentre os peixes teleósteos. Fazem parte deste grupo os "mooneyes" (Hiodontidae), "knifefishes" (Notopteridae), o "abu" (Gymnarchidae), peixes-elefante (Mormyridae), aruanãs e pirarucu (Osteoglossidae), e o peixe-borboleta africano (Pantodontidae). Esse grupo de morfologia heterogênea possui um longo e diverso registro fóssil, incluindo táxons de todos os continentes, oriundos tanto de depósitos de água doce quanto marinhos. As relações filogenéticas dentre a maioria das famílias de osteoglossomorfos é amplamente aceita. Entretanto, há muito a ser descoberto sobre a sistemática biológica desses peixes, particularmente com relação às afinidades filogenéticas de inúmeros fósseis, relações dentro de Mormyridae, e a posição filogenética de Pantodon. Neste manuscrito nós revisamos o atual estado de conhecimento dos peixes osteoglossomorfos. Nós primeiramente provemos uma abordagem geral da diversidade de Osteoglossomorpha, e então discutimos os estudos filogenéticos sobre Osteoglossomorpha sob a perspectiva morfológica e molecular, assim como uma análise biogeográfica do grupo. Finalmente, oferecemos nossas perspectivas sobre os futuros passos para pesquisa sobre a sistemática biológica de Osteoglossomorpha.(AU)

A review of the systematic biology of fossil and living bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha (Actinopterygii: Teleostei)

The bony-tongue fishes, Osteoglossomorpha, have been the focus of a great deal of morphological, systematic, and evolutionary study, due in part to their basal position among extant teleostean fishes. This group includes the mooneyes (Hiodontidae), knifefishes (Notopteridae), the abu (Gymnarchidae), elephantfishes (Mormyridae), arawanas and pirarucu (Osteoglossidae), and the African butterfly fish (Pantodontidae). This morphologically heterogeneous group also has a long and diverse fossil record, including taxa from all continents and both freshwater and marine deposits. The phylogenetic relationships among most extant osteoglossomorph families are widely agreed upon. However, there is still much to discover about the systematic biology of these fishes, particularly with regard to the phylogenetic affinities of several fossil taxa, within Mormyridae, and the position of Pantodon. In this paper we review the state of knowledge for osteoglossomorph fishes. We first provide an overview of the diversity of Osteoglossomorpha, and then discuss studies of the phylogeny of Osteoglossomorpha from both morphological and molecular perspectives, as well as biogeographic analyses of the group. Finally, we offer our perspectives on future needs for research on the systematic biology of Osteoglossomorpha.(AU)

Os peixes da Superordem Osteoglossomorpha têm sido foco de inúmeros estudos sobre a morfologia, sistemática e evolução, particularmente devido à sua posição basal dentre os peixes teleósteos. Fazem parte deste grupo os "mooneyes" (Hiodontidae), "knifefishes" (Notopteridae), o "abu" (Gymnarchidae), peixes-elefante (Mormyridae), aruanãs e pirarucu (Osteoglossidae), e o peixe-borboleta africano (Pantodontidae). Esse grupo de morfologia heterogênea possui um longo e diverso registro fóssil, incluindo táxons de todos os continentes, oriundos tanto de depósitos de água doce quanto marinhos. As relações filogenéticas dentre a maioria das famílias de osteoglossomorfos é amplamente aceita. Entretanto, há muito a ser descoberto sobre a sistemática biológica desses peixes, particularmente com relação às afinidades filogenéticas de inúmeros fósseis, relações dentro de Mormyridae, e a posição filogenética de Pantodon. Neste manuscrito nós revisamos o atual estado de conhecimento dos peixes osteoglossomorfos. Nós primeiramente provemos uma abordagem geral da diversidade de Osteoglossomorpha, e então discutimos os estudos filogenéticos sobre Osteoglossomorpha sob a perspectiva morfológica e molecular, assim como uma análise biogeográfica do grupo. Finalmente, oferecemos nossas perspectivas sobre os futuros passos para pesquisa sobre a sistemática biológica de Osteoglossomorpha.(AU)