Molecular phylogeny of Moenkhausia (Characidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence

Abstract

Moenkhausia is one of the most speciose genera in Characidae, currently composed of 75 nominal species of small fishes distributed across South American hydrographic basins, primarily the Amazon and Guyanas. Despite the large number of described species, studies involving a substantial number of its species designed to better understand their relationships and putative monophyly are still lacking. In this study, we analysed a large number of species of Moenkhausia to test the monophyly of the genus based on the phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences of two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes. The in‐group included 29 species of Moenkhausia, and the out‐group was composed of representatives of Characidae and other members of Characiformes. All species of Moenkhausia belong to the same clade (Clade C); however, they appear distributed in five monophyletic groups along with other different genera, which means that Moenkhausia is polyphyletic and indicates the necessity of an extensive revision of the group.

Moenkhausia rubra, a new species from rio Juruena, upper rio Tapajós basin, Brazil (Characiformes: Characidae)

“…According to recent phylogenetic studies (e.g., Mirande, 2010;Oliveira et al, 2011;Mariguela et al, 2013) Moenkhausia is not a monophyletic group, as previously suggested by Fink (1979), Costa (1994) and Weitzman & Palmer (1997). However, these phylogenetic studies included restricted numbers of species of Moenkhausia, and a phylogeny encompassing the whole diversity of the group is still lacking.…”

“…The genus Moenkhausia Eigenmann currently comprises over seventy valid species (Bertaco et al, 2011a(Bertaco et al, , 2011bMariguela et al, 2013) presenting a wide variation in overall shape and pigmentation patterns (Benine et al, 2004), many of which have been described recently (e.g., Benine et al, 2009;Zanata et al, 2009;Marinho, 2010;Marinho & Langeani, 2010;Sousa et al, 2010;Bertaco et al, 2011aBertaco et al, , 2011b. The genus is widely distributed in South America, being present in coastal drainages of the Guyanas, as well as in the río Orinoco, rio Amazonas, rio Tocantins and Araguaia, rio São Francisco, rio Paraná-Paraguay, and Brazilian eastern drainages (Lima et al, 2003).…”

Redescription of Moenkhausia doceana(Steindachner, 1877) (Ostariophysi: Characiformes): a characid from the Northeastern Mata Atlântica ecoregion, Brazil

“…Moenkhausia xinguensis (Steindachner), type species of genus, is closely related to M. sanctaefilomenae (Steindachner) (Steindachner), plus M. doceana herein added). Mariguela et al (2013) presented a molecular phylogenetic analysis for some Moenkhausia species (29 of 75 species, not including M. doceana), and recognized some monophyletic clades, but their conclusions also reinforce a non-monophyletic genus, and an extensive revision of the whole group is required. Eigenmann (1917) stated Moenkhausia as distinct from Tetragonopterus Cuvier regarding the lateral line direction (i.e., line straight vs. slightly curved downwards).…”

“…In spite of Moenkhausia being regarded as a nonmonophyletic genus (Mirande, 2010;Mariguela et al, 2013), and in the absence of a phylogenetic analysis available at the moment, the genus is still recognized in a traditional combination of characters presented by Eigenmann (1917), e.g., caudal fin at least partly covered with small scales; lateral line complete; second suborbital (third infraorbital sensu Weitzman, 1962) leaving a naked area dorsal to the lower limb of preopercle; at least five teeth in the inner row of the premaxillary. Moreover, Eigenmann (1917) was the only author to present a unique complete taxonomic revision for the genus, at that moment with 29 species.…”

Redescription of Moenkhausia megalops (Eigenmann, 1907), a widespread tetra from the Amazon basin (Characiformes, Characidae)

“…The genus is widely distributed in the Neotropical cis-Andean river basins, notably occurring in the Amazon basin (e.g., a polyphyletic group (Mirande 2010, Oliveira et al 2011, Mariguela et al 2013. Nevertheless, Moenkhausia is still diagnosed by the same combination of characters as proposed by Eigenmann (1917): premaxillary teeth in two series, with five multicuspid teeth in the inner series; caudal-fin covered by small scales; and complete lateral line.…”