Phylogeny of the Hypostomus cochliodon super-group (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), using UCEs and CT-scan techniques

• Grant number: 25/08262-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Claudio de Oliveira
• Grantee: Lucas Fernando Peres Ramos
• Supervisor: Mark Sabaj Perez
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Drexel University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/08377-8 - Phylogenomic analysis of the genus Hypostomus (OSTARIOPHYSI: SILURIFORMES) using ultraconserved elements, BP.DR

Abstract

The representatives of the Loricariidae family are widely distributed throughout South America and the southern part of Central America, occupying a wide variety of freshwater habitats. Loricariidae species exhibit a wide range of morphological, physiological, and ecological specializations. Approximately half of all species of Loricariidae (508; 48%) are attributed to the subfamily Hypostominae. The genus Hypostomus Lacèpede, 1803, is the most diverse of Hypostominae, with approximately 155 valid species. One of the most important lineages found within Hypostomus is the super-group H. cochliodon, currently composed of 22 valid species. Published works in the last two decades has highlighted the complex issues of this lineage, some authors considering that H. cochliodon is derived from Hypostomus, being regarded as a junior synonym of it. Others strongly support H. cochliodon as a sister group to all other Hypostomus. Seeking to resolve the inconsistencies present in the topological position of the H. cochliodon super-group, we propose to integrate molecular and morphological approaches to recognize and diagnose these group. For the molecular analyses, we intend to generate genomic data of ultraconserved elements (UCEs). In morphological analysis, we will make osteological comparisons among species of H. cochliodon super-group using micro-computed tomography (CT) images.