Characoidea

Node 172: Characoidea (100 / 100 / 76 / 24)

Families Alestidae , Characidae , Gasteropelecidae , and Serrasalmidae .

The superfamily Characoidea was proposed by Buckup (1998) to include the Characidae (containing the Serrasalmidae ) and Gasteropelecidae . That author did not include the Gasteropelecidae in his analysis, but classified that family with the Characidae based mainly on Géry (1977), who stated that the gasteropelecids have most characters in common with certain characids. The Characoidea is redefined in this paper to include, in addition, the former families Acestrorhynchidae and Cynodontidae (herein considered as subfamilies of the Characidae ) and the Alestidae . In the publication by Buckup (1998) both the Acestrorhynchidae and Cynodontidae are included in the superfamily Cynodontoidea , while theAlestidae was classified in its own superfamily, the Alestoidea.Although no serrasalmids were included in the phylogeny of Buckup (1998), that author preferred to maintain this group as a subfamily of the Characidae in light of the lack of phylogenetic information refuting a close relationship of these families. In the molecular hypothesis of Calcagnotto et al. (2005) the Serrasalmidae , however, forms a clade separate from the Characidae . The hypothesis herein proposed also supports a familial level status for serrasalmids.

Synapomorphies:

1. Relative position of anterior margin of antorbital and first infraorbital (57): (1> 0) anterior margin of antorbital either aligned with or anterior to first infraorbital. Reversed in node 184 and in Galeocharax humeralis .

2. Form of lateral line (89): (0> 1) curved ventrally in abdominal region. Paralleled in Hemiodus cf. thayeria . Reversed in Rhaphiodon vulpinus .

3. Relative number of precaudal vertebrae (226): (0> 1) equal or less numerous than caudal vertebrae. Reversed in Brycinus carolinae , Chalceus macrolepidotus , and Gymnocharacinus bergii .

4. Dorsal longitudinal ridge on medial lamella of pelvic bone (264): (0> 1) absent. Reversed in the node 184.

5. Number of branched anal-fin rays (286): (0> 1) 11 or more. Reversed in Chalceus macrolepidotus .

6. Number of branched anal-fin rays (287): (0> 1) 18 or more. Reversed in the Alestidae , in nodes 280 and 290, and in Attonitus ephimeros and Prodontocharax melanotus . Some trees: Reversed in Hasemania nana . Paralleled in node 182.

7. Lateral lamellae on anterior anal pterygiophores (295): (1> 0) absent. Reversed in the Alestidae .