Subterranean Fishes of the World

5532

2000

Jounal of Experimental Biology

665-683

203

We present a new molecular phylogeny for 41 species of African mormyroid electric fishes derived from the 12S, 16S and cytochrome b genes and the nuclear RAG2 gene. From this, we reconstruct the evolution of the complex electric organs of these fishes. Phylogenetic results are generally concordant with earlier preliminary molecular studies of a smaller group of species and with the osteology-based classification of Taverne, which divides the group into the Gymnarchidae and the Mormyridae, with the latter including the subfamilies Petrocephalinae (Petrocephalus) and Mormyrinae (all remaining taxa). However, we find that several genera previously recognized by Taverne are nonmonophyletic. Within the Mormyrinae, the genus Myomyrus is the sister group to all the remaining taxa. Other wellsupported clades within this group are recovered. A reconstruction of electrocyte evolution on the basis of our best-supported topology suggests that electrocytes with penetrating stalks evolved once early in the history of the mormyrids followed by multiple paedomorphic reversals to electrocytes with non-penetrating stalks. Key words: electric fish, mormyrid, electric organ, phylogeny, systematics, 12S and 16S rDNA, cytochrome b, RAG2.

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