Salmoniformes: marine or freshwater origin?

Abstract

A long discussion about either marine or freshwater genesis of salmonids is still relevant today. So far, no convincing evidence of any point of view has been found. The arguments to freshwater origin of Salmoniformes are analyzed using the «probabilistic» method of phylogenetic reconstruction and genetic approach. The analysis shows that proposed arguments cannot be considered as evidences for freshwater genesis of this taxon. Real facts and theoretical substantiations of early freshwater Salmoniformes are absent, so there is no need to prove that they acquired freshwater dwell in the Cretaceous-Paleocene in order to become anadromous fish again in the Eocene.

Keywords

• salmoniformes
• esociformes
• genesis
• freshwater dwell
• anadromous habit
• probabilistic method of phylogenetic reconstruction
• genetic approach