Systematic and historical biogeography of the Bryconidae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes) suggesting a new rearrangement of its genera and an old origin of Mesoamerican ichthyofauna

Abstract

BackgroundRecent molecular hypotheses suggest that some traditional suprageneric taxa of Characiformes require revision, as they may not constitute monophyletic groups. This is the case for the Bryconidae. Various studies have proposed that this family (considered a subfamily by some authors) may be composed of different genera. However, until now, no phylogenetic study of all putative genera has been conducted.ResultsIn the present study, we analyzed 27 species (46 specimens) of all currently recognized genera of the Bryconidae (ingroup) and 208 species representing all other families and most genera of the Characiformes (outgroup). Five genes were sequenced: 16SrRNA, Cytochrome b, recombination activating gene 1 and 2 and myosin heavy chain 6 cardiac muscle. The final matrix contained 4699 bp and was analyzed by maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses. The results show that the Bryconidae, composed of Brycon, Chilobrycon, Henochilus and Salminus, is monophyletic and is the sister group of Gasteropelecidae + Triportheidae. However, the genus Brycon is polyphyletic. Fossil studies suggest that the family originated approximately 47 million years ago (Ma) and that one of the two main lineages persisted only in trans-Andean rivers, including Central American rivers, suggesting a much older origin of Mesoamerican ichthyofauna than previously accepted.ConclusionBryconidae is composed by five main clades, including the genera Brycon, Chilobrycon, Henochilus and Salminus, but a taxonomic review of these groups is needed. Our results point to a possible ancient invasion of Central America, dating about 20.3 ± 5.0 Ma (late Oligocene - early Miocene), to explain the occurrence of Brycon in Central America.

Phylogenetic analyses of the subgenus Mollienesia (Poecilia, Poeciliidae, Teleostei) reveal taxonomic inconsistencies, cryptic biodiversity, and spatio-temporal aspects of diversification in Middle America

“…The dispersal mechanism and older molecular dating estimates agree with the phylogeographic patterns of another secondary freshwater fish (Synbranchidae: Perdices et al, 2005), but the dates are substantially more recent than those from studies employing alternative calibration points for Allopoecilia + Mollienesia (Alda et al, 2013). We obtain a younger time estimate of this event at 1.60 Ma, and our results thus add to previous work that has indicated multiple waves of invasion by freshwater fishes into Middle America (Abe et al, 2014;Bermingham and Martin, 1998;Picq et al, 2014).…”

Tracking the history of an invasion: the freshwater croakers (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) in South America

“…Although the fish fauna of the São Francisco Basin present many other pairs of congeneric species, most do not represent lineages that originated within the basin but rather distinct lineages of the same genus that colonised this river system independently, for example Brycon spp. (Abe et al 2014) and Acestrorhynchus spp. (Toledo Piza 2007).…”

Influence of a large dam and importance of an undammed tributary on the reproductive ecology of the threatened fish matrinxã Brycon orthotaenia Günther, 1864 (Characiformes: Bryconidae) in southeastern Brazil

“…The genus Brycon, previously belonged to subfamily Bryconinae (Lima, 2003) and currently inserted in family Bryconidae (Abe et al, 2014) is widespread over the Neotropical region, and comprises 48 nominal species described for cis-Andean rivers of South America (Carrizo et al, 2013). Species in this genus are among the most threatened in Brazilian rivers and have been since the 1970s (Godoy, 1975).…”