Phylogenetic relationships of the African genera Alestes and Brycinus (Teleostei, Characiformes, Alestidae)

Abstract
The family Alestidae (also referred to as the African Characidae) comprises the African dwarf forms ("Petersiini") and the genera Alestes, Brycinus, Bryconaethiops, and Hydrocynus. Although several authors have presented characters to support the monophyly of the family, a cladistic analysis of the group has not been published. Furthermore, the interrelationships of the constituent groups are the subject of some controversy. A cladistic analysis of the Alestidae is presented, including characters to support the monophyly of the family. The results of this study indicate that several species should be removed from the genus Brycinus, that Hydrocynus is the sister group of Alestes s.str. (containing only five species), and that the dwarf alestids ("Petersiini") do not form a monophyletic group.

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