Phylogenetic, morphological and systematic studies of three genera of Cichlidae (Teleosts fish, Perciformes) endemic of Madagascar

Abstract

The aim of this research is to know the degree of reliability of the classification method based on molecular studies versus those based on the morphological characters. The hypothesis is as follows: the results from these two methods would be different. Eleven species belonging to the three genera of endemic Cichlids emerge from the genetic study using a mitochondrial DNA fragment COI, and four of which are new species for Science: Paratilapia sp. Nosy Be, Paratilapia sp. smallspots Est, Ptychochromis sp. Nosy be and Paretroplus sp. Lokoho. Morphological studies of 45 characters from 42 specimens did not correctly classify the three genera. Molecular systematics is thus a more reliable and informative method for studying the evolution of a given taxon and the link between its members.