Morphology of the anterior vertebrae in Pristigasteroidea and its implications on the phylogenetic relatioships between Clupeomorpha and Ostariophysi (Osteichthyes, Teleostei)

• Grant number: 99/09781-6
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2000
• End date: August 31, 2006
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Mario Cesar Cardoso de Pinna
• Grantee: Mario Cesar Cardoso de Pinna
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The aims of this project are to conduct a study of the comparative morphology of the anterior vertebrae and associated structures in the superfamily Priostigasteroidea, a relatively basal lineage of clupeomorph fishes. Preliminary investigations showed that the anterior vertebrae of pristigasteroids display numerous peculiar modifications, some of which approach remarkably those found in the superorder Ostariophysi. The modifications in pristigasteroids, however, remain without record in the zoological literature. The relevance of these observations is underscored by the recent proposal that Clupeomorpha and Ostariophysis are sister groups, the most important recent discovery in the phylogeny of Teleostei and a hypothesis that is corroborated by both molecular and morphological data. The similarities observed in the vertebral complex and its relationships with the swimbladder include hitherto unknown homologies potentially informative about the phylogenetic relationships between the two groups. The work is divided in the following phases: 1- study of the comparative morphology of the anterior vertebrae and associated structures in the adults of species representing all genera of Pristigasteroidea and many other Clupeomorpha, aiming at describing all the phylogenetically-relevant variation observed; 2- study of the ontogeny of the various structures defined in phase 1, on the basis of growth series of representative pristigasteroids; 3- on the basis of information gathered in phases 1 and 2, to estimate the phylogenetic implications of morphological patterns discovered, for both the possible relationship between Clupeomorpha and Ostariophysi (primary objective) and the phylogeny of Pristigasteroidea (secondary objective). The project focuses on the discovery of original data, since so little is known about pristigasteroid anatomy. However, there will be a subsequent evaluation and discussion of the phyiogenetic implications of the characters discovered, according to the basic principles of phylogenetic systematics. The results of this study will provide an important addition to a high-profile question in modern ichthyology, namely the possible relationship between Clupeomorpha and Ostariophysi. We also predict that the new data found will be relevant for the understanding of otophysic conections in Teleostei in general. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DI DARIO, FABIO. Chirocentrids as engrauloids: evidence from suspensorium, branchial arches, and infraorbital bones (Clupeomorpha, Teleostei). ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, v. 156, n. 2, p. 363-383, JUN 2009. (99/09781-6)

SCHAEFER‚ S.A.; PROVENZANO‚ F.; PINNA‚ M.D.E.; BASKIN‚ J.N.. New and noteworthy Venezuelan Glanapterygine catfishes (Siluriformes‚ Trichomycteridae)‚ with discussion of their biogeography and psammophily. American Museum Novitates, p. 1-27, 2005. (99/09781-6)

DE PINNA‚ M.C.C.; NG‚ H.H.. The second ural centrum in Siluriformes and its implication for the monophyly of superfamily Sisoroidea (Teleostei‚ Ostariophysi). American Museum Novitates, p. 1-23, 2004. (99/09781-6)

FERNÁNDEZ, LUIS; PINNA, MARIO C. C. DE. Phreatic Catfish of the Genus Silvinichthys from Southern South America (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae). Copeia, n. 1, p. 100-108, Feb. 2005. (99/09781-6)