Gill arch and hyoid arch diversity and cypriniform phylogeny: Distributed integration of morphology and web-based tools

Abstract

Using the multiple tools available to support an online collaborative environment, we surveyed 62 morphological features from the hyoid arch and gill arches of 53 species of cypriniform fishes that matched those sampled in recent molecularanalyses and two sets of outgroup species (‘Saitoh outgroups’ and ‘Basal outgroups’). This is a skeletal region whose variation is considered historically significant within fishes and Cypriniformes in particular, and we review previous work in light of our own. The clarity of description of characters was enhanced by the use of a community reference ontology, the Teleost Anatomy Ontology. Terms, synonyms, and definitions for skeletal features from this region were contributed to this ontology, and links to these terms and relationships are included in our character descriptions. One thousand two hundred sixty-three images of features from this region were linked to ontology terms and deposited in a community image repository, Morphbank; these are linked to the characters described herein. Character data were analyzed using parsimony and Bayesian methods for two sets of outgroups, one of which matched that used in previous molecular analyses. The parsimony results, using either outgroup set, indicated similar higher-level relationships, including a sister group relationship between cyprinids and loaches. A basal trichotomy among Gyrinocheilus, catostomids and cyprinids + loaches was the result of Saitoh outgroup analysis in contrast to a sister group relationship between Gyrinocheilus and catostomids discovered in the Basal outgroup analysis. Interestingly, analyses including basal outgroups recovered a monophyletic Cyprinidae, consistent with all previous studies. Character evolution that supports higher-level nodes of interest in the consensus tree is described. In some respects, it might be a surprise that 62 morphological characters from a small skeletal region for only 53 cypriniform species (out of over 3,200 total species) could provide as much resolution as it does. We expect, however, further phylogenetic resolution as morphological data from across skeleton regions are combined, species sampling is increased, and molecular data are added.

Development of the mandibular, hyoid arch and gill arch skeleton in the Chinese barb Puntius semifasciolatus: comparisons of ossification sequences among Cypriniformes

“…The morphological specializations of the 4000 species of Cypriniformes (Eschmeyer & Fong, 2012), the largest and one of the most diverse groups of freshwater fishes, include a variety of modifications to their feeding and respiratory structures, i.e. the jaws, hyoid arch and gill arches (Siebert, 1987; Mabee et al , 2011). For example, a toothed fifth ceratobranchial bone is enlarged in cypriniforms.…”

“…: +1 605 677 6171; email: pmabee@usd.edu structures, i.e. the jaws, hyoid arch and gill arches (Siebert, 1987;Mabee et al, 2011). For example, a toothed fifth ceratobranchial bone is enlarged in cypriniforms.…”

Additions to “The Cypriniformes Tree of Confusion”

“…Since the acceptance of our paper (Britz & Conway 2011), two publications have appeared that have relevance to the topic discussed and need to be mentioned. Mabee et al (2011) is the first morphological phylogenetic analysis produced by the Cypriniformes Tree of Life project and covers 62 characters from gill arch, and hyoid osteology in 53 cypriniform taxa. Tang et al's (2011) molecular analysis of the cyprinid subfamily Gobioninae also included the three miniature taxa Sundadanio, Paedocypris and Danionella and was based on two mitochondrial and two nuclear genes.…”

Morphology of the only known population of Kessler’s gudgeon Romanogobio kesslerii (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) outside the Black Sea basin

“…Detailed data concerning gill arches morphology were used to resolve the phylogeny of Cypriniformes (Mabee et al 2011). Among analyzed species there was only one specimen of G. gobio representing the subfamily Gobioninae.…”