Phylogenetic analysis of Moenkhausia jamesi species complex (sensu Petrolli & Benine) (Characiformes, Characidae)

• Grant number: 15/01972-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: May 01, 2015
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Cardoso Benine
• Grantee: Marina Gimenez Petrolli
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 11/50282-7 - An inventory of the Characiform fish fauna (Teleostei, Ostariophysi) from South America, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Currently, the genus Moenkhausia consists of 78 valid species, distributed in the main hydrographic South-American basins, with its greatest diversity in the Amazon basin. This genus is still in a confused state of phylogenetic and taxonomic understanding due to the large number of species and morphological diversification. Approaches focusing its subgroups can be a way out to deal with the confusing state of understanding of its systematic. This proposal aims to address basic questions about the relationship of a subgroup of Moenkhausia gender with other species of Characidae. The following hypothesis will be tested: the species complex Moenkhausia jamesi (sensu Petrolli & Benine), form a monophyletic group in Characidae, along with species of the genus Astyanax (e.g. Astyanax correntinus, A. pellegrini) and Ctenobrycon, due to sharing of changes in pre-maxillary teeth and bone, and dentary. For this, will be performed morphological studies of the cranial, axial, and appendicular and associated muscles, through specific techniques detailed in the recent literature, the greatest number of species Moenkausia, and possibly related species, as well as significant external groups looking for detecting the presence of synapomorphies that can diagnose such a monophyletic group. Information obtained from the consensus phylogeny will be combined with information on the geographical distribution of clades, in order to investigate the historical biogeography of them. As a result it is intended to obtain a robust phylogenetic hypothesis as well as a detailed description of oral cephalic osteology and associated. Biogeographical issues should also be proposed and discussed. (AU)

Scientific publications

(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)

PETROLLI, MARINA G.; AZEVEDO-SANTOS, VALTER M.; BENINE, RICARDO C.. Moenkhausia venerei (Characiformes: Characidae), a new species from the rio Araguaia, Central Brazil. Zootaxa, v. 4105, n. 2, p. 159-170, APR 20 2016. (11/50282-7, 15/01972-1)

PETROLLI, MARINA G.; BENINE, RICARDO C.. Description of three new species of Moenkhausia (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae) with the definition of the Moenkhausia jamesi species complex. Zootaxa, v. 3986, n. 4, p. 401-420, JUL 20 2015. (04/09219-6, 11/50282-7, 13/24729-0, 15/01972-1)