Revision and phylogenetic analysis of the Amphilinidea Poche, 1922 (Platyhelminthes: Cercomeria: Cercomeromorpha)

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Abstract
Systematic relationships of amphilinidean platyhelminth species were investigated. Eight species and three genera are considered valid. Analysis of 46 character states comprising 34 homologous series produced a single phylogenetic tree with a consistency index value of 87%, indicating a very low degree of parallelism in the evolution of amphilinidean morphology. Comparison of host and parasite phylogenies produced a fit of 70%, suggesting a high degree of coevolution between amphilinideans and their teleostean hosts. The geographic distribution of the amphilinideans was compared with four current hypotheses of area relationship for the southern land masses. Consistency index values obtained range from 87.5% to 100%, indicating that vicariance may be sufficient to explain the biogeographic distribution of amphilinidean platyhelminths.