Taxonomy, systematics, and museomics of Glanapteryginae and Sarcoglanidinae: Understanding the evolution and diversification of the most aberrant subfamilies in Ostariophysi

• Grant number: 24/22626-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Taxonomy of Recent Groups
• Principal Investigator: Claudio de Oliveira
• Grantee: Vinícius José Carvalho Reis
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/13433-6 - Phylogeny and molecular identification of fishes of the superorder Ostariophysi (Chordata: Actinopterygii) using genomic approaches, AP.TEM

Abstract

This project aims to understand the evolution and diversification of Sarcoglanidinae and Glanapteryginae. Both subfamilies exhibit the most conspicuous morphology among Siluriformes, with miniature representatives showing extensive reductions and extreme modifications for a fossorial lifestyle. Despite this, the taxonomy and systematics of these subfamilies remain uncertain, posing a challenge to understanding the evolutionary history of the family Trichomycteridae. By integrating advanced techniques for morphological and molecular studies, using all representatives of both subfamilies, this project will clarify the taxonomy of uncertain groups such as Ammoglanis and Stenolicmus, as well as the phylogenetic position of Microcambeva and Listrura, previously placed in Sarcoglanidinae and Glanapteryginae, respectively, but currently assigned to Microcambevinae. The generation of genomic data from formalin-preserved specimens, a technique known as museomics, combined with morphological data obtained via computed tomography (CT-Scan)-never before accessible due to the impossibility of dissecting rare species-will ultimately enable the construction of phylogenetic trees that elucidate the evolution and diversification of both subfamilies and their respective genera. These findings will allow for a deeper understanding of miniaturization and the patterns of morphological modifications that have made Glanapteryginae and Sarcoglanidinae highly specialized for a fossorial lifestyle. Therefore, this project will not be limited to resolving localized evolutionary questions; its results will have broad implications for the systematics of this group and may serve as a model for studying other groups of organisms.