New Blood: Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 1 Flooded Forest, Kratie-Stung Treng, Cambodia, in the Mekong River Ecoregion

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

New Blood: Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 1 Flooded Forest, Kratie-Stung Treng, Cambodia, in the Mekong River Ecoregion REPORT New Blood Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 DRACULA FISH (DANIONELLA DRACULA) Britz, Conway & Rüber, 2009 Myanmar Written by Nancy Gephart, Geoffrey Blate, Colin McQuistan (WWF) and Christian Thompson (the green room) www.greenroomenvironmental.com Designed by Torva Thompson (the green room) Front cover photo: Danionella dracula, dracula minnow species © Natural History Museum, London © Text 2010 WWF WWF is one of the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global Network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by: conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. A fanged fish and a fangless snake, five new mammal species, a bald bird and a EXECUTIVE frog that sounds like a cricket are among the 145 species newly described by science SUMMARY in the Greater Mekong region during 2009. The Greater Mekong region of Southeast Asia through which the Mekong River flows comprises the countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan Province in southern China. The region is home to some of the planet’s most endangered wild species including tiger, Asian elephant, Mekong dolphin and Mekong giant catfish, in addition to hundreds of newly discovered species. Between 1997 and 2008 an incredible 1,231 species were discovered by science across this region alone1,2. While these discoveries reinforce the conclusion that the Greater Mekong is a biodiversity hotspot, with some being considered for IUCN Red List status, they also highlight the fragility of this region’s diverse species and habitats. The plight of the wild tiger whose numbers have dropped by a dramatic 70 percent in a little over a decade, and the likely local extinction of the Javan rhino in Vietnam are urgent reminders that 145 SPECIES biodiversity is still being lost at an alarming rate as a consequence of human activities. DISCOVERED IN 2009 IN Rapid unsustainable development is profoundly affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services and consequently the millions of people who depend on them. Climate change THE GREATER MEKONG will likely amplify these changes. The combination of warming and shifting rainfall patterns are causing more extreme floods, droughts and storms. These changes are exacerbating non-climate pressures such as agricultural expansion and unsustainable infrastructure on natural ecosystems and the services they provide3. © Nikolai Orlov To resolve these growing regional pressures, a new, shared regional vision across the Greater Mekong is required, whereby biodiversity and ecosystems are conserved, in recognition of their vital role in maintaining resilience to climate change and reducing climate-related disaster risks. Environment Ministries cannot act alone. All sectors of government including economics, trade, fisheries and agriculture, must play a part if biodiversity loss is to be halted. © Supol Jitvijak One opportunity to coalesce regional coordination is the Global Environment Facility (GEF) under the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). This facility provides grants to countries for projects that benefit the global environment and promote sustainable livelihoods, and offers a large scale financing opportunity to support conservation efforts. If the countries of the region commit a percentage of their GEF national allocations to a regional ecosystem-based climate change adaptation approach, additional GEF resources will be leveraged. This regional commitment and the associated financial resources would deliver coordinated ecosystem-based adaptation at the scale necessary to maintain the region’s resilience for the benefit of its people, economies and stunning biodiversity. Biodiversity concerns must be integrated across all parts of government and business, and the full value of biodiversity needs to be accounted for adequately in decision- making. Only then will we be able to address the problem and ensure a future for people and nature. New Blood: Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 1 Flooded forest, Kratie-Stung Treng, Cambodia, in the Mekong River Ecoregion. © Gordon Congdon An average of 3 new species are recorded by science each week in the Greater Mekong – A CLOSER a rate of discovery that marks this region as one of the frontiers for new species LOOK... discoveries on our planet. Discovered in a small It is after this distinctive Much about this unique stream in Myanmar, the feature that the species was species is still unknown, DRACULA Dracula minnow is one of aptly named dracula, after including its full range and the most unique newly the fanged Count Dracula endangered status. Despite FISH described species of 20094. in Bram Stoker’s novel. the fact that it was found In addition to the fangs, in high numbers in a small (DANIONELLA DRACULA) It is largely translucent this species can be stream, it is yet hard to and a maximum of 16.7mm distinguished because of its distinguish whether this long, making it similar in smaller skeleton. Already a unique species is endemic many ways to other miniature fish, the to a single ecosystem Danionella species. Danionella dracula is made within Myanmar, or spread However, there is one shorter by the absence of throughout the region as a fundamental difference 44 bones usually found whole. between this species and in the Danionella genus. its brethren: the presence Scientists attribute this size Danionella dracula was of fangs at the front of each difference to “a relatively selected as one of “The Top jaw. Although the simple case of 10 New Species” described evolutionary cause of these developmental truncation”, in 2009 by The fangs is unknown, they where the last 44 bones just International Institute for appear to be part of the failed to mature. Species Exploration at skeleton of fish in the Arizona State University species Danionella dracula. and an international committee of taxonomists5. © Natural History Museum, London + 26 in 2009 TWENTY-SIX NEW FISH SPECIES WERE DISCOVERED IN THE GREATER MEKONG IN 2009 4 New Blood: Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 First seen by scientists may be living in karst areas short series of whistled, over 15 years ago, the of Thailand and Vietnam, dry bubbling notes”. A BARE-FACED Bare-Faced Bulbul has however the unique habitat evaded discovery due to its of that specific Lao region Its tendency toward karsts BULBUL remote location and makes separate makes this species safe seemingly outrageous populations unlikely. In from habitat-loss in the (PYCNONOTUS HUALON) appearance. It is only addition, the bird’s short-term, as limestone known to live in the distinctive appearance formations with suitable sparse, deciduous forest on suggests that, if other habitat are protected limestone karsts in central populations do exist, we under Lao national law. Laos, where it was would have found them by Thus, chances are high that originally discovered6. now! If the Bare-Faced the majority of Bare-Faced Bulbul is indeed only Bulbuls are currently In 1995, R.J. Timmins saw found in central Laos, it residing within protected the bare-headed birds pass would be the country’s areas. However, such overhead, but after relating only endemic bird species limestone habitats are the sight to the rest of the discovered. threatened in the group, he “subsequently long-term by factors such weathered a fair amount The species is as quarrying and habitat of good-natured ribbing distinguished from other conversion. There is on relating the sighting to bulbuls by its appearance currently insufficient sceptical colleagues”. and vocalizations. Unlike data for this species to be Scientists continued to other species, Bare-Faced included on the IUCN Red think little of this unusual Bulbul lacks feathering on List. bulbul species until 2008, the face and the side of the when Timmins sighted the head, and has extensive The bird is the first bulbul species again, and pale blue skin on the rear discovered in Asia in a described it in full. of the head and around century, and is Asia’s only It is possible that other the eyes. Its most common known species of bald populations of the species vocalizations consist of “a songbird. © Iain Woxvold + 2 in 2009 TWO NEW BIRD SPECIES WERE DISCOVERED IN THE GREATER MEKONG IN 2009 New Blood: Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 5 A new species of The new species is known The area could be rich in venomous pitviper was only from Trung Khanh undiscovered reptile species A VENOMOUS recorded in karst region Nature Reserve, Cao Bang as a second, yet unnamed in Trung Khanh Nature Province, at elevations of species of pitviper from the PITVIPER Reserve, Cao Bang Province 500-700m above sea level. Viridovipera genus, was in northeastern Vietnam7. also discovered in the karst (PROTOBOTHROPS According to scientists, Asian pitvipers typically region of Cat Ba National TRUNGKHANHENSIS) the pitviper Protobothrops feed on a variety of other Park, Hai Phong Province. trungkhanhensis is an animals, including rodents, Practically all the species of extremely small size for lizards, amphibians, birds pitvipers in Vietnam are the Protobothrops genus, and even other snakes associated with karst measuring 70cm in length. including other pitvipers. habitats. With these two Both males and females There are now more than additions the total number of the species are grayish- 35 recognised species, with of karst-associated vipers brown with dark-brown many known to inhabit the will be increased to seven. patterns. The coloration Greater Mekong region. perfectly camouflages these snakes on karst rocks covered by various plants and tree waste. © Nikolai Orlov + 10 in 2009 TEN NEW REPTILES WERE DISCOVERED IN THE GREATER MEKONG IN 2009 6 New Blood: Greater Mekong New Species Discoveries 2009 This new species of thought to reside in arid threatened by the leaf-toed gecko, Dixonius climates near bodies of construction of roads and A LIPSTICK aaronbaueri, is water.
Recommended publications
  • Article Evolutionary Dynamics of the OR Gene Repertoire in Teleost Fishes
    bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.09.434524; this version posted March 10, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Article Evolutionary dynamics of the OR gene repertoire in teleost fishes: evidence of an association with changes in olfactory epithelium shape Maxime Policarpo1, Katherine E Bemis2, James C Tyler3, Cushla J Metcalfe4, Patrick Laurenti5, Jean-Christophe Sandoz1, Sylvie Rétaux6 and Didier Casane*,1,7 1 Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. 2 NOAA National Systematics Laboratory, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560, U.S.A. 3Department of Paleobiology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 20560, U.S.A. 4 Independent Researcher, PO Box 21, Nambour QLD 4560, Australia. 5 Université de Paris, Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire des Energies de Demain, Paris, France 6 Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Neurosciences Paris-Saclay, 91190, Gif-sur- Yvette, France. 7 Université de Paris, UFR Sciences du Vivant, F-75013 Paris, France. * Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected]. !1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.03.09.434524; this version posted March 10, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Abstract Teleost fishes perceive their environment through a range of sensory modalities, among which olfaction often plays an important role.
    [Show full text]
  • Oreoglanis Pangenensis, a New Species of Torrent Catfish from Arunachal Pradesh, India (Siluriformes: Sisoridae)
    331 Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 331-338, 6 figs., 1 tab., March 2015 © 2015 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, Germany – ISSN 0936-9902 Oreoglanis pangenensis, a new species of torrent catfish from Arunachal Pradesh, India (Siluriformes: Sisoridae) Bikramjit Sinha*, ** and Lakpa Tamang* Oreoglanis pangenensis, new species, is described from the Pange River, upper Brahmaputra River basin, Apatani plateau, Lower Subansiri District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. It belongs to the O. siamensis species group and is distinguished from all its congeners by a combination of two types of projections on the ventroposterior margin of the maxillary barbel: the proximal one-third with lobulate projections and the distal two-thirds with laciniate projec- tions. It is further distinguished from members of the O. delacouri group in having a median notch on the posterior margin of the lower lip, an entire lower lip margin, and (except for O. tenuicauda) an emarginate caudal fin. Introduction The glyptosternine genus Oreoglanis Smith, 1933 is characterized by having a continuous or Members of the sisorid subfamily Glyptosterninae uninterrupted postlabial groove on the lower jaw are catfishes living in torrential habitats with a and heterodont dentition (Chu et al., 1990): dorso-ventrally depressed head and body, and pointed teeth in the upper jaw, truncate to spatu- enlarged paired fins that aid in adhesion to the late teeth in the anterior region and pointed teeth substratum in fast-flowing mountain streams. in the posterior region of the lower jaw. Although They are found in the upper reaches of the Amu Oreoglanis has been demonstrated to be paraphy- Darya River drainage in Turkmenistan south- letic (He, 1995, 1996), we provisionally use the wards and eastwards to Indochina and the Yang- genus as understood by Ng & Kottelat (1999).
    [Show full text]
  • EIA/SIA) Environmental Management Plan (EMP
    Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (EIA/SIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Port & IWT components of Kaladan Multi-modal Transit Transport Project Prepared by MyAsia Consulting Co Ltd, 41, Nawaday Street, Yangon, Myanmar. KMTT Project EIA/SIA Study Report and EMP 1 0.1 Contents Serial No Topic Page 0.1 Contents 2 0.2 Abbreviations and Acronyms 4 1.0 Executive summary (Myanmar Language Version) 6 1.0 Executive Summary (English Language Version) 15 2.0 Introduction 20 2.1 Presentation of the Project Concept 20 2.2 Related Projects and development 20 2.3 Presentation of the Project proponent & EIA Consultants 22 2.4 Presentation of Associated Organisations-Laboratories 23 2.5 Presentation of the health impacts and expert 24 3.0 Policy, Legal and Institutional Framework 25 3.1 Corporate, Environmental and Social Policies 25 3.2 Policy & Legal Framework in Myanmar 25 3.3 Contractual and other commitments 26 3.4 Institutional framework in Myanmar 26 3.5 Project’s Environmental and Social Standards 27 3.6 Health Standards for Project with health Impacts 27 4.0 Project Description and Alternatives Selection 28 4.1 Project Rationale & Background 28 4.2 Project Location, overview map and site layout 29 4.3 Project Development and Implementation time schedules 32 4.4 Description of the Project size, installations and technology 33 4.5 Description of the selected alternative in phases 44 4.6 Comparison and selection of alternative 49 5.0 Description of the Surrounding Environment 51 5.1 Setting the study limits 51 5.2 Methodology
    [Show full text]
  • Cyrtodactylus Saiyok Sp. Nov., a New Dry Evergreen Forest-Dwelling Bent-Toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, Western Thailand
    Zootaxa 3869 (1): 064–074 ISSN 1175-5326 (print edition) www.mapress.com/zootaxa/ Article ZOOTAXA Copyright © 2014 Magnolia Press ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition) http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3869.1.6 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0334116F-5288-4F5E-9B9B-FD5D71FFB179 Cyrtodactylus saiyok sp. nov., a new dry evergreen forest-dwelling Bent-toed Gecko (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand NONN PANITVONG1, MONTRI SUMONTHA2, JITTHEP TUNPRASERT3 & OLIVIER S. G. PAUWELS4,5 1siamensis.org, 408/144 Phaholyothin Place Bldg 34FL, Phaholyothin Rd., Phayathai, Bangkok 10400, Thailand. E-mail: [email protected] 2Ranong Marine Fisheries Station, 157 Saphanpla Rd., Paknam, Muang, Ranong 85000, Thailand. E-mail: [email protected] 3Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand 4Département des Vertébrés Récents, Institut Royal des Sciences naturelles de Belgique, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium 5Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract We describe Cyrtodactylus saiyok sp. nov. from a dry evergreen forest on a limestone hill in Khao Krajae, Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, western Thailand. It is characterized by a maximal known SVL of 61.0 mm; 18–19 longitudinal rows of dorsal tubercles; 23 or 24 ventral scale rows between ventrolateral skin folds; a continuous series of enlarged fem- oro-precloacal scales, including 5 pore-bearing precloacal scales (males); no precloacal groove or depression; transversely enlarged subcaudal scales; a complete black nuchal loop; a W-shaped band above shoulders and 3–5 irregular, medially interrupted or not, black dorsal bands between limb insertions. Cyrtodactylus saiyok sp.
    [Show full text]
  • Family-Sisoridae-Overview-PDF.Pdf
    FAMILY Sisoridae Bleeker, 1858 - sisorid catfishes SUBFAMILY Sisorinae Bleeker, 1858 - sisorid catfishes [=Sisorichthyoidei, Bagarina, Nangrina] GENUS Ayarnangra Roberts, 2001 - sisorid catfishes Species Ayarnangra estuarius Roberts, 2001 - Irrawaddy ayarnangra GENUS Bagarius Bleeker, 1853 - sisorid catfishes Species Bagarius bagarius (Hamilton, 1822) - goonch, dwarf goonch [=buchanani, platespogon] Species Bagarius rutilus Ng & Kottelat, 2000 - Red River goonch Species Bagarius suchus Roberts, 1983 - crocodile catfish Species Bagarius yarrelli (Sykes, 1839) - goonch, giant devil catfish [=carnaticus, lica, nieuwenhuisii] GENUS Caelatoglanis Ng & Kottelat, 2005 - sisorid catfishes Species Caelatoglanis zonatus Ng & Kottelat, 2005 - Chon Son catfish GENUS Conta Hora, 1950 - sisorid catfishes Species Conta conta (Hamilton, 1822) - Mahamanda River catfish [=elongata] Species Conta pectinata Ng, 2005 - Dibrugarh catfish GENUS Erethistes Muller & Troschel, 1849 - sisorid catfishes [=Hara, Laguvia] Species Erethistes filamentosus (Blyth, 1860) - Megathat Chaung catfish [=maesotensis] Species Erethistes hara (McClelland, 1843) - Hooghly River catfish [=asperus, buchanani, saharsai, serratus] Species Erethistes horai (Misra, 1976) - Terai catfish Species Erethistes jerdoni (Day, 1870) - Sylhet catfish Species Erethistes koladynensis (Anganthoibi & Vishwanath, 2009) - Koladyne River catfish Species Erethistes longissimus (Ng & Kottelat, 2007) - Mogaung catfish Species Erethistes mesembrinus (Ng & Kottelat, 2007) - Langkatuek catfish Species Erethistes
    [Show full text]
  • Celestial Pearl Danio", a New Genus and Species of Colourful Minute Cyprinid Fish from Myanmar (Pisces: Cypriniformes)
    THE RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 2007 55(1): 131-140 Date of Publication: 28 Feb.2007 © National University of Singapore THE "CELESTIAL PEARL DANIO", A NEW GENUS AND SPECIES OF COLOURFUL MINUTE CYPRINID FISH FROM MYANMAR (PISCES: CYPRINIFORMES) Tyson R. Roberts Research Associate, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT. - Celestichthys margaritatus, a new genus and species of Danioinae, is described from a rapidly developing locality in the Salween basin about 70-80 km northeast of Inle Lake in northern Myanmar. Males and females are strikingly colouful. It is apparently most closely related to two danioins endemic to Inle, Microrasbora rubescens and "Microrasbora" erythromicron. The latter species may be congeneric with the new species. The new genus is identified as a danioin by specializations on its lower jaw and its numerous anal fin rays. The colouration, while highly distinctive, seems also to be characteristically danioin. The danioin notch (Roberts, 1986; Fang, 2003) is reduced or absent, but the danioin mandibular flap and bony knob (defined herein) are present. The anal fin has iiiSVz-lOV: rays. In addition to its distinctive body spots and barred fins the new fish is distinguished from other species of danioins by the following combination of characters: snout and mouth extremely short; premaxillary with an elongate and very slender ascending process; mandible foreshortened; body deep, with rounded dorsal and anal fins; modal vertebral count 15+16=31; caudal fin moderately rather than deeply forked; principal caudal fin rays 9/8; scales vertically ovoid; and pharyngeal teeth conical, in three rows KEY WORDS. - Hopong; principal caudal fin rays; danioin mandibular notch, knob, and pad; captive breeding.
    [Show full text]
  • 145 a New Species of Dixonius (Sauria: Gekkonidae
    THE RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 2004 THE RAFFLES BULLETIN OF ZOOLOGY 2004 52(2): 145-150 © National University of Singapore A NEW SPECIES OF DIXONIUS (SAURIA: GEKKONIDAE) FROM SOUTHERN VIETNAM Indraneil Das Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT. – A new species of Dixonius is described from Nha Trang, southern Vietnam. The new species reaches an SVL of 42.4 mm, and is diagnosable from congeneric species in showing the following combination of characters: head wider than long in adults; two supranasals in narrow contact; dark canthal stripe present, but terminating at back of head; lips unbarred; and dorsum of body and tail brownish olive, with dark blotches. KEY WORDS. – Dixonius vietnamensis, new species, systematics, Reptilia, Sauria, Nha Trang, Vietnam. INTRODUCTION remain to be recognised within this genus, as colour variation, reported by Taylor (1963; see also Chan-Ard et al., 1999) Dixonius was established by Bauer et al. (1997) for Asian and genetic evidence provided by Ota et al. (2001) suggest. gekkonids formerly placed in the genus Phyllodactylus, on Indeed, most recently, Bauer et al. (2004) described a third the basis of morphology and its disjunct distribution. Rösler species, hangseesom, from near Ban Tha Sao (Sai Yok Noi (2000) and Kluge (2001) recognised two species within the Waterfall), 14º06’N 99º25’E” (CUZM R 2003.58, holotype; new Asian genus: melanostictus Taylor, 1962 (type locality: CUZM R 2003.57; 60, 6; three paratypes); and “Thailand, “Mauk Lek Road-Camp (Friendship Highway), Sara Buri” Kanchanaburi Province, Sai Yok National Park” (ZMB [14º 35’N; 101º 05’E; eastern Thailand; spelling of type 65437, paratype), Sai Yok District, Kanchanaburi Province, locality emended to Muak Lek by Taylor, 1962: 218]; FMNH Sai Yok District.
    [Show full text]
  • Behavioral Response to Alarm Pheromone in the Miniature Fish
    University of Utah UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH JOURNAL BEHAVIORAL RESPONSE TO ALARM PHEROMONE IN THE MINIATURE FISH, DANIONELLA TRANSLUCIDA Jacob Bedke (Adam Douglass, Ariadne Penalva) Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy I. Introduction Pheromones are chemicals produced by an organism that act as a communication signal from an organism to its conspecifics, members of the same species. While pheromones are most often described and associated within the context of sexual interaction (Darwin, 1889; Gomez- Diaz & Benton, 2013), there are also other situations in which certain pheromones may be exchanged (Chung-Davidson & Huertas, 2010; Morgan, 2008; Yew & Chung, 2015). One such event is when an organism is endangered or threatened by a predator or an environment. During such an event, the organism will release an alarm pheromone that communicates the potential danger to conspecifics to elicit behaviors associated with fear, anxiety, or aggression, depending on the species (Mathis & Smith, 1992; Mizunami, 2010; Vandermoten et. al, 2012). Such a pheromone may be evolutionary advantageous in an altruistic sense as it would allow one organism to alert its kin that are receptive to the pheromone so that they can modify their behavior in a way that may increase their likelihood of survival in the midst of such a threat. Ostiophysari, a superorder of fish including Danio rerio (zebrafish) and minnows, are known to produce and react to an alarm pheromone. Karl von Frisch (1938), a well-known scientist known for his work in honey bee communication, was the first to document this pheromone in minnows, and he gave it the name “schrekstoff” (Stensmyr & Maderspacher, 2012). He noted an acute behavior change in the minnows when he accidentally exposed them to the pheromone when he damaged the skin of a member of the minnow colony, and further research has determined the presence of this alarm pheromone to be present in the skin of fishes (Pfieffer, 1977).
    [Show full text]
  • Resolving Cypriniformes Relationships Using an Anchored Enrichment Approach Carla C
    Stout et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology (2016) 16:244 DOI 10.1186/s12862-016-0819-5 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Resolving Cypriniformes relationships using an anchored enrichment approach Carla C. Stout1*†, Milton Tan1†, Alan R. Lemmon2, Emily Moriarty Lemmon3 and Jonathan W. Armbruster1 Abstract Background: Cypriniformes (minnows, carps, loaches, and suckers) is the largest group of freshwater fishes in the world (~4300 described species). Despite much attention, previous attempts to elucidate relationships using molecular and morphological characters have been incongruent. In this study we present the first phylogenomic analysis using anchored hybrid enrichment for 172 taxa to represent the order (plus three out-group taxa), which is the largest dataset for the order to date (219 loci, 315,288 bp, average locus length of 1011 bp). Results: Concatenation analysis establishes a robust tree with 97 % of nodes at 100 % bootstrap support. Species tree analysis was highly congruent with the concatenation analysis with only two major differences: monophyly of Cobitoidei and placement of Danionidae. Conclusions: Most major clades obtained in prior molecular studies were validated as monophyletic, and we provide robust resolution for the relationships among these clades for the first time. These relationships can be used as a framework for addressing a variety of evolutionary questions (e.g. phylogeography, polyploidization, diversification, trait evolution, comparative genomics) for which Cypriniformes is ideally suited. Keywords: Fish, High-throughput
    [Show full text]
  • SCIENCE CHINA Phylogenetic Relationships and Estimation Of
    SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences • RESEARCH PAPER • April 2012 Vol.55 No.4: 312–320 doi: 10.1007/s11427-012-4305-z Phylogenetic relationships and estimation of divergence times among Sisoridae catfishes YU MeiLing1,2* & HE ShunPing1* 1Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 400732, China; 2Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China Received December 10, 2011; accepted March 9, 2012 Nineteen taxa representing 10 genera of Sisoridae were subjected to phylogenetic analyses of sequence data for the nuclear genes Plagl2 and ADNP and the mitochondrial gene cytochrome b. The three data sets were analyzed separately and combined into a single data set to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships among Chinese sisorids. Both Chinese Sisoridae as a whole and the glyptosternoid taxa formed monophyletic groups. The genus Pseudecheneis is likely to be the earliest diverging extant ge- nus among the Chinese Sisoridae. The four Pareuchiloglanis species included in the study formed a monophyletic group. Glaridoglanis was indicated to be earliest diverging glyptosternoid, followed by Glyptosternon maculatum and Exostoma labi- atum. Our data supported the conclusion that Oreoglanis and Pseudexostoma both formed a monophyletic group. On the basis of the fossil record and the results of a molecular dating analysis, we estimated that the Sisoridae diverged in the late Miocene about 12.2 Mya. The glyptosternoid clade was indicated to have diverged, also in the late Miocene, about 10.7 Mya, and the more specialized glyptosternoid genera, such as Pareuchiloglanis, originated in the Pleistocene (within 1.9 Mya). The specia- tion of glyptosternoid fishes is hypothesized to be closely related with the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecology and Evolution of Phytotelm- Jreeding Anurans
    * ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF PHYTOTELM- JREEDING ANURANS Richard M. Lehtinen Editor MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS I--- - MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, NO. 193 Ann Ahr, November, 2004 PUBLICATIONS OF THE MUSEUM OF ZQOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NO. 192 J. B. BURCII,Editot* Ku1.1: SI.EFANOAND JANICEPAPPAS, Assistant Editoras The publications of the Museum of Zoology, The University of Michigan, consist primarily of two series-the Miscellaneous P~rhlicationsand the Occasional Papers. Both serics were founded by Dr. Bryant Walker, Mr. Bradshaw H. Swales, and Dr. W. W. Newcomb. Occasionally the Museum publishes contributions outside of thesc series; beginning in 1990 these are titled Special Publications and are numbered. All s~tbmitledmanuscripts to any of the Museum's publications receive external review. The Occasiontrl Papers, begun in 1913, sellie as a mcdium for original studies based prii~cipallyupon the collections in the Museum. They are issued separately. When a sufficient number of pages has been printed to make a volume, a title page, table of contents, and an index are supplied to libraries and individuals on the mailing list for the series. The Mi.scelluneous Puhlicutions, initiated in 1916, include monographic studies, papers on field and museum techniques, and other contributions not within the scope of the Occasional Papers, and are publislled separately. It is not intended that they bc grouped into volumes. Each number has a title page and, when necessary, a table of contents. A complete list of publications on Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Fishes, Insects, Mollusks, and other topics is avail- able. Address inquiries to Publications, Museum of Zoology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48 109-1079.
    [Show full text]
  • Cryptic Taxonomic Diversity in Two Broadly Distributed Lizards Of
    The Natural History Journal of Chulalongkorn University 1(1): 1-7, August 2001 ©2001 by Chulalongkorn University Cryptic Taxonomic Diversity in Two Broadly Distributed Lizards of Thailand (Mabuya macularia and Dixonius siamensis) as Revealed by Chromosomal Investigations (Reptilia: Lacertilia) HIDETOSHI OTA1*, TSUTOMU HIKIDA2, JARUJIN NABHITABHATA3 AND SOMSAK PANHA4 1 Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa 903-0213, JAPAN 2 Department of Zoology, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8502, JAPAN 3 Reference Collection Division, National Science Museum, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, THAILAND 4 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, THAILAND ABSTRACT.−Karyological surveys were made for two common lizards, Mabuya macularia and Dixonius siamensis, in Thailand. Of the M. macularia specimens karyotyped, the one from Mae Yom, northwestern Thailand, had 2n=38 chromosomes in a graded series as previously reported for a specimen from southwestern Thailand. The other specimens, all from eastern Thailand, however, invariably exhibited a 2n=34 karyotype consisting of four large, and 13 distinctly smaller chromosome pairs. Of the D. siamensis specimens, on the other hand, those from eastern Thailand invariably exhibited a 2n=40 karyotype, whereas three males and one female from Mae Yom had 2n=42 chromosomes. Distinct chromosomal variation was also observed within the Mae Yom sample that may reflect a ZW sex chromosome system. These results strongly suggest the presence of more than one biological species within each of those “broadly distributed species”. This further argues the necessity of genetic surveys for many other morphologically defined “common species” in Thailand and its vicinity in order to evaluate taxonomic diversity and endemicity of herpetofauna in this region appropriately.
    [Show full text]