Phylogenetic Affinities of Pygmy Sunfishes (Elassoma) Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Pygmy sunfishes (genus Elassoma) comprise six nominal species: three are common and three are comparatively rare. Relationships of pygmy sunfishes to one another are not well known, in part because relationships of pygmy sunfishes to other teleosts are controversial. We examined relationships of Elassoma to several putative sister groups suggested by previous comparative studies. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrially encoded 12S rDNA (287 bp) and 16S rDNA (412 bp) genes did not unambiguously resolve relationships of Elassoma but did indicate alternative hypotheses that were consistent with molecular data. These include a sister-group relationship between Elassoma and Centrarchidae plus Moronidae. Alternatively, rDNA sequences are not consistent with hypothesized sister-group relationships between Elassoma and Atherinomorphs or Elassoma plus Cichlidae.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: