Morphometric variation of the Herichthys bartoni (Bean, 1892) species group (Teleostei: Cichlidae): How many species comprise H. labridens (Pellegrin, 1903)?

Abstract

Cichlids of the tribe Heroini have long been a source of taxonomical conflict. In particular, the species included in the Herichthys bartoni group have failed to be recovered as monophyletic in different molecular studies. In this paper we use traditional and geometric morphometrics to evaluate morphological variation in the species included in the H. bartoni complex in order to evaluate the number of species it contains. An update of a previously published DNA barcoding study suggests the existence of three genetic clusters that included the six recognized species analyzed in this study, none of them recovered as monophyletic. On the other hand, geometric morphometrics arise as a useful tool to discriminate species due that traditional morphometrics showed a high overlap in the characters analyzed that prevents the proposal of diagnostic characters.Los cíclidos de la tribu Heroini han experimentado un largo conflicto taxonómico. En particular, las especies incluidas en el grupo Herichthys bartoni no han sido recuperadas como monofiléticas en diversos estudios moleculares. En este artículo nosotros usamos morfometría tradicional y geométrica para evaluar la variación morfológica de las especies incluidas en el complejo H. bartoni para evaluar el numero de especies que contiene. Una actualización de un estudio previo de código de barras de ADN sugiere la existencia de tres grupos genéticos que incluyen las seis especies reconocidas analizadas en este estudio, ninguna de las cuales fue recuperada como monofilética. Por otro lado, la morfometría geométrica surge como una herramienta de utilidad para discriminar especies debido a que la variación en caracteres morfométricos tradicionales muestra altos niveles de solapamiento que previene la propuesta de caracteres diagnósticos.

Response paper: Morphometric article by Mejía et al. 2015 alluding genera Herichthys and Nosferatu displays serious inconsistencies

“…The current review pinpoints some of the more conspicuous conceptual inconsistencies and fundamental errors found in the study by Mejía et al (2015), It is contended that the authors fail to provide any new insights into the complex biogeography and evolutionary history of the Nosferatu and Herichthys genus groups, and that while results of their Cox1 molecular analysis are comparable to those by De la Maza-Benignos et al (2015), the conclusions of the two studies are not comparable. In addition, it is contested that, whereas the designation of genus Nosferatu by De la MazaBenignos et al (2015) was found on the principles of the biological and phylogenetic species concepts, the rejection of the genus by Mejía et al (2015) is solely based "on the presence of (overlapping) morphometric characters" between genera. The assumption by Mejía et al (2015), that because their geometric morphometrics analysis failed to provide separation of species, then Nosferatu genus does not correspond to a valid taxon; and their suggesting geometric morphometrics "as useful tool to discriminate species, because it allows to propose diagnostic characters" were not supported by their results.…”

“…by Mejía et al 2015 is critically reviewed. The current review pinpoints some of the more conspicuous conceptual inconsistencies and fundamental errors found in the study by Mejía et al (2015), It is contended that the authors fail to provide any new insights into the complex biogeography and evolutionary history of the Nosferatu and Herichthys genus groups, and that while results of their Cox1 molecular analysis are comparable to those by De la Maza-Benignos et al (2015), the conclusions of the two studies are not comparable.…”

“…by Mejía et al 2015 is critically reviewed. The current review pinpoints some of the more conspicuous conceptual inconsistencies and fundamental errors found in the study by Mejía et al (2015), It is contended that the authors fail to provide any new insights into the complex biogeography and evolutionary history of the Nosferatu and Herichthys genus groups, and that while results of their Cox1 molecular analysis are comparable to those by De la Maza-Benignos et al (2015), the conclusions of the two studies are not comparable. In addition, it is contested that, whereas the designation of genus Nosferatu by De la MazaBenignos et al (2015) was found on the principles of the biological and phylogenetic species concepts, the rejection of the genus by Mejía et al (2015) is solely based "on the presence of (overlapping) morphometric characters" between genera.…”

“…In addition, it is contested that, whereas the designation of genus Nosferatu by De la MazaBenignos et al (2015) was found on the principles of the biological and phylogenetic species concepts, the rejection of the genus by Mejía et al (2015) is solely based "on the presence of (overlapping) morphometric characters" between genera. The assumption by Mejía et al (2015), that because their geometric morphometrics analysis failed to provide separation of species, then Nosferatu genus does not correspond to a valid taxon; and their suggesting geometric morphometrics "as useful tool to discriminate species, because it allows to propose diagnostic characters" were not supported by their results. While Mejía et al present some interesting thoughts on the systematics of Nosferatu, they unfortunately fail to provide any data that can be objectively assessed as relevant to motivate any changes in the current taxonomy.…”

“…por Mejía et al (2015), así como también evidencia algunas de las contradicciones conceptuales y errores fundamentales encontrados en dicho documento. Se arguye que el artículo no proporciona ningún aspecto nuevo acerca de la compleja biogeografía, ni de la historia evolutiva de los géneros Nosferatu y Herichthys, y que mientras que los resultados del análisis molecular utilizando el gen Cox1 son similares a los de la Maza-Benignos et al (2015), las conclusiones de ambos estudios no son compatibles.…”