Taxonomic revision of subgenus Awaous (chonophorus) (Lichtenstein, 1822) and phylogenetic placement within Stenogobius lineage (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae)

• Grant number: 17/24989-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: January 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Flávio Alicino Bockmann
• Grantee: João Pedro Trevisan dos Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 18/14290-4 - Searching for head muscle characters to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of the Stenogobius lineage, with emphasis on the subgenus Awaous (Chonophorus) (Gobiiformes: Gobiidae), BE.EP.MS

Abstract

The genus Awaous bears a complex taxonomic and phylogenetic history, being considered either member of the subfamily Sicydiinae or treated in the subfamily Gobionellinae. Currently Awaous is divided into three subgenera: Awaous, Chonophorus and Euctenogobius. The validity of species belonging to Awaous is still in debate. For instance, Awaous transandeanus, historically treated as a junior synonym of A. banana, is now considered a valid species. Not rarely records of occurrence of Awaous species in the literature and/or collections are reported far from the limits proposed for each species, which suggests possible misidentifications. In face of this scenario a taxonomic revision of Awaous becomes necessary. The present work is a first step towards this objective, since it aims to review the nominal species included in the subgenus Awaous (Chonophorus), as well as related forms. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of Awaous (with emphasis on the relationships between the species of its subgenus Chonophorus) will be undertaken, covering its relationships within the "Stenogobius lineage", in order to elucidate to which subfamily this genus belongs to. The characters necessary for the accomplishment of this analysis, especially osteological ones, were little explored in the literature and will be of extreme value for the understanding of the evolutionary history of the group as a whole. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SANTOS, João Pedro Trevisan dos. Taxonomic revision of subgenus Awaous (Chonophorus) (Lichtenstein, 1822) and phylogenetic placement within \Stenogobius lineage\ (Gobioidei: Gobiidae). 2020. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (PCARP/BC) Ribeirão Preto.