Phylogenetic relationships and biogeography of fishes of the subfamily Loricariinae based on morphological data (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

• Grant number: 08/09477-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2009
• End date: February 28, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Morphology of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Flávio Alicino Bockmann
• Grantee: Flávio Alicino Bockmann
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The fishes of the subfamily Loricariinae with 34 genera and 205 species, form an attractive group of catfishes because of its peculiar armored plated and flattened body and caudal-fin spines (or sometimes, pectoral- or/and dorsal-fin spines) extended as long filaments; characters that make them very required by aquarists. The relationships between the species and genera of Loricariinae are barely known. Preliminary studies made by the candidate and other authors have shown the existence of an great anatomical variation, not documented in the subfamily. This variation shows that there is a vast field not explored for the elucidation of the phylogeny and evolution of Loricariinae, with a lot of ramifications biologically interesting. This project intends to collect a lot of morphological data (especially ostelogical characters) to establish the phylogenetic relationships of the species of this subfamily. The methodology for the phylogenetic analysis will be cladistic, through the parsimony analysis. The phylogenetic hypothesis will provide a new classification of Loricariinae and the biogeography of the group. The institution (FFCLRP- USP) have laboratories well equipped for anatomical studies of fishes and a good bibliography, allowing good conditions for the development of this project. (AU)