Agoniates

Genus Agoniates View in CoL

The relationships of the monogeneric subfamily Agoniatinae were analyzed by Géry (1963, 1972), who considered the presence in this genus of some presumably “primitive” and “adaptive” characters. Géry proposed that Agoniates was related with Clupeacharax . Castro (1984) proposed a sister-group relationship of Clupeacharax and Engraulisoma , contrary to the relationships suggested by Géry (1963) for Agoniates . Zanata (2000) later proposed a close relationship of Agoniates with Lignobrycon , and Triportheus , but Lima & Zanata (2003) maintained the Agoniatinae as valid and monogeneric. Lima et al. (2003) classified Lignobrycon and Triportheus as incertae sedis within Characidae . The results of the present study do not support a close relationship between Agoniates and Triportheus . Perhaps the inclusion of Lignobrycon in a broader phylogenetic analysis could resolve these discrepancies.