Phylogenetic relationships of Xenurobrycon Myers & Miranda-Ribeiro with discussions of miniaturization within the genus (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae)

• Grant number: 19/23167-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: November 01, 2019
• End date: April 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Naercio Aquino Menezes
• Grantee: Péricles Vinícius Gentile
• Host Institution: Museu de Zoologia (MZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Xenurobrycon is a genus of the tribe Xenurobryconini, Stevardiinae, including six miniature species that occurs in the Amazon and Paraguay river basins. Even though the intergeneric relationships of Xenurobryconini have been evaluated in previous phylogenetic studies, there isn't any study that aim to understand the relationships within Xenurobrycon species. This proposal intends 1) to elucidate the relationships between species of Xenurobrycon using a phylogenetic analysis by parsimony, and 2) to evaluate the reductive anatomical structures in a comparative framework using ontogenic series to understand if some anatomical features are the products of evolution toward miniaturization within the tribe. (AU)