Gasteropelecidae (Weitzman, 1954)

Node 171: Gasteropelecidae View in CoL (100 / 100 / 100 / 89)

Genera Carnegiella , Engraulisoma , Gasteropelecus Scopoli , and Thoracocharax ; genus Clupeacharax ?

Although the monophyly of the Gasteropelecidae , as traditionally defined, has long been obvious ( Weitzman, 1954, 1960; Buckup, 1998), the relationships of this family with the remaining Characiformes had not been adequately tested. The great morphological divergence of the gasteropelecids probably complicated their inclusion in previous morphological phylogenies; however, no members of this family were included also in the molecular phylogeny of Calcagnotto et al. (2005). As herein proposed this family includes all genera traditionally considered in the Gasteropelecidae plus Engraulisoma (and tentatively also Clupeacharax ). Castro (1984) proposed a close relationship between Engraulisoma taeniatum and Clupeacharax anchoveoides , the only member of the characid subfamily Clupeacharacinae ( Géry, 1977; Lima, 2003a), based on seven putative synapomorphies: the possession of a foramen in the ventral surface of the pterotic, the short supraorbital, the fusion of the third and fourth infraorbitals (*), the antorbital with unique form and size within Characidae (*), the third branchiostegal ray articulated in the suture between the anterior and posterior ceratohyals, the absence of the second and third postcleithra (*), and the presence of interdigitations between the ischiatic processes of the pelvic bones. Synapomorphies marked with (*) are comparable to those defining the Gasteropelecidae in this analysis. The fusion of the posttemporal and supracleithrum, and the possession of only one epural, mentioned as autapomorphies of Engraulisoma taeniatum by Castro (1984), are shared with all the former Gasteropelecidae and with Thoracocharax stellatus , respectively. Similarly, the posteriorly situated dorsal fin is shared between Clupeacharax and the Gasteropelecidae sensu Weitzman (1954) . Thus, although Clupeacharax anchoveoides was not included in this analysis, it can be tentatively included as incertae sedis within this clade, given the observations of Castro (1984). With conservativeness as a criterion, the genera Clupeacharax and Engraulisoma should be included in the Gasteropelecidae whether if the former genus is actually the sister group of Engraulisoma , as proposed by Castro (1984), or if Clupeacharax is basal to Engraulisoma and the remaining Gasteropelecidae . Under all possible scenarios Engraulisoma taeniatum and probably also Clupeacharax anchoveoides are removed from the Characidae and included in the Gasteropelecidae .

Synapomorphies:

1. Position of antorbital relative to lateral ethmoid in lateral view (56): (0> 1) antorbital overlapping lateral ethmoid. Paralleled in node 302.

2. Fourth infraorbital (66): (0> 1) absent or much reduced and bordered posteriorly by third and fifth infraorbitals. Paralleled in the Aphyocharacinae , in node 186, and in Aphyodite grammica , Hasemania nana , Hemigrammus erythrozonus , Hoplocharax goethei , Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis , and Nematobrycon palmeri .

3. Laterosensory canal of first infraorbital (73): (1> 0) projects dorsally from main body of first infraorbital. Paralleled in the Heterocharacinae .

4. Alignment of ascending process of premaxilla (105): (0> 1) medially shifted and separated from nasal. Paralleled in node 193. 5. Position of coronomeckelian (110): (1> 0) situated mainly lateral to Meckelian cartilage. Paralleled in nodes 176 and 206, and in Hoplias cf. malabaricus and Prochilodus lineatus .

6. Inner row of dentary teeth (143): (0> 1) absent. Paralleled in nodes 166, 168, and 189, and in Rhaphiodon vulpinus and Serrasalmus maculatus .

7. Teeth on third pharyngobranchial (206): (0> 1) absent. Paralleled in Piaractus mesopotamicus .

8. Second postcleithrum (248): (0> 1) absent. Paralleled in node 302 and in Pseudocorynopoma doriae and Rhaphiodon vulpinus .

9. Third postcleithrum (249): (0> 1) absent. Paralleled in node 302, and in Piabucus melanostomus , Pyrrhulina australis , Rhaphiodon vulpinus , and Xenagoniates bondi .

10. Fusion between posttemporal and supracleithrum (255): (0> 1) present.

11. Anterior extension of pelvic-bone along main axis (262): (0> 1) projecting anterior of lateral and medial lamellae of pelvic bone. Paralleled in node 302 and in Hoplias cf. malabaricus , Piabucus melanostomus , Rhaphiodon vulpinus , and Stethaprion erythrops .

12. Circulii on posterior field of scales (319): (0> 1) absent. Paralleled in nodes 168 and 206, and in Agoniates anchovia . Some trees: Paralleled in node 302.