Frontiers in Marine Science (Nov 2015)
Neglected taxa, morphology and molecules: recent advances in systematics of gobioid fishes (Teleostei, Gobioidei)
Abstract
With over 2200 species worldwide, the Gobioidei is undoubtedly one of the most species-rich clades of fishes. However, our understanding of phylogenetic relationships among gobioids is still poor and there is still no consensus regarding the number of families recognized. A serious problem in our advancement of gobioid systematics is the lack of morphological studies and the fact that many gobioid clades are still undiagnosed by synapomorphies. Here, we focus on the ‘basal’ gobioid families (characterized by six branchiostegal rays) Rhyacichthyidae, Odontobutidae, Milyeringidae, Eleotrididae, Butidae, and Thalasseleotrididae. We will provide an overview of previous morphology based studies and will present novel molecular data (mitochondrial and nuclear DNA) extending the study of Agorreta et al. (2013), representing the most comprehensive molecular phylogenetic framework of gobioid fishes thus far. Specifically, inclusion of the previously neglected Milyeringidae and Thalasseleotrididae will provide novel insights into character evolution and the evolutionary history of ‘basal’ gobioids.
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