Redefinition and phylogenetic relationships of the family Pinguipedidae (Teleostei: Perciformes)

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships of the family Pinguipedidae plus the genus Cheimarrichthys von Haast, 1874, were studied to redefine the family. Based on a phylogenetic analysis using derived characters belonging to 21 transformation series, accepting the monophyly of Pinguipedidae plus Cheimarrichthys provisionally for the operational procedure of the analysis, it was hypothesized that Cheimarrichthys is not closely related to Parapercis Bleeker, 1863, although these genera had been considered as having a close affinity. Although the Pinguipedidae and Cheimarrichthys share nine derived characters, it was determined that these characters are also found in other trachinoid families. In addition, several families, such as the Leptoscopidae, Uranoscopidae, and Trichodontidae, have many more derived characters in common with Cheimarrichthys than the pinguipedids have with that genus. The conclusion drawn here is that it is not parsimonious to recognize the monophyly of the Pinguipedidae and Cheimarrichthys based on these nine derived characters, and that these characters are not compelling enough to link these groups. The redefined Pinguipedidae is proposed to include the following five genera: Parapercis, Prolatilus Gill, 1865, Pinguipes Cuvier, 1829, Pseudopercis de Miranda-Ribeiro, 1903, and Kochichthys Kamohara, 1960. Cheimarrichthys, excluded from the Pinguipedidae, is put into its own family, Cheimarrichthyidae.

Gonadal and cellular dynamics during protogynous sex change in the harlequin sandsmelt Parapercis pulchella

“…We first described histological transformations of gonads during sex change. Similar to a previous study in the focal species (Hasebe, 2019), we found that male germ cells were present in all observed gonads, and no individuals without testicular components were present, suggesting that females form ovotestes in this species.…”

“…Our study, together with a previous study (Hasebe, 2019), revealed geographic differences in the threshold of body length at which sex change initiates. Body size (LT and LS) successively increased in association with the progression of sex change (Figure 3a,b).…”

“…The reasons why this species is appropriate for the study of ovotestis formation include the following: (1) this species is easily collected because of the habitat distribution in shallow coastal areas; (2) the body size in this species is appropriate for experiments like blood sampling (maximum total length is about 190 mm [Hasebe, 2019]).…”

“…This species is widely distributed in shallow coastal waters in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, and Sri Lanka (Araki et al, 2018; Shimada, 2013). The genus Parapercis is considered the most derived group in the family Pinguipetidae (Imamura & Matsuura, 2003; Imamura & Odani, 2013). In the genus Parapercis , protogynous sex change is reported in nine species, including Parapercis pulchella (Hasebe, 2019; Kobayashi, 2004; Kobayashi et al, 1993; Kuwamura et al, 2020; Stroud, 1982).…”

“…The genus Parapercis is considered the most derived group in the family Pinguipetidae (Imamura & Matsuura, 2003;Imamura & Odani, 2013). In the genus Parapercis, protogynous sex change is reported in nine species, including Parapercis pulchella (Hasebe, 2019;Kobayashi, 2004;Kobayashi et al, 1993;Kuwamura et al, 2020;Stroud, 1982). In addition, females in this species possess ovotestes, whereas males have testes (Hasebe, 2019) (Figure 1b).…”