The taxonomy of clupeiforms has been extensively studied, yet phylogenetic relationships among component taxa remain controversial or unresolved. Here we test current and new hypotheses of relationships among clupeiforms using mitochondrial rRNA genes (12S and 16S) and nuclear RAG1 and RAG2 sequences (total of 4749bp) for 37 clupeiform taxa representing all five extant families and all subfamil...

BACKGROUND The taxonomic validity of Northeast Indian endemic Mahseer species, Tor progeneius and Neolissochilus hexastichus, has been argued repeatedly. This is mainly due to disagreements in recognizing the species based on morphological characters. Consequently, both the species have been concealed for many decades. DNA barcoding has become a promising and an independent technique for accura...

A total of 103 specimens of Hoplias intermedius (Günther, 1864) and 86 specimens of H. malabaricus (Bloch, 1794) from the upper São Francisco River, State of Minas Gerais were collected between April 2011 and August 2013, and their parasitic fauna were investigated. Four species of Digenea were found: metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum sp., and Ithyoclinostomum sp.; and adult specimens of Phyll...

We address the taxonomic position of the southern European individuals of pike, performing a series of tests and comparisons from morphology, DNA taxonomy and population genetics parameters, in order to support the hypothesis that two species of pike, and not only one, exist in Europe. A strong relationship emerged between a northern genotype supported by COI, Cytb, AFLP and specific fragments,...

Two new species of the genus Cardiodectes Wilson, 1917 (Siphonostonatoida: Pennellidae) are described based on females from gobiid fishes (Actinopterygii: Perciformes) in coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. Both new species belong to the 'rubosus' group sharing a trunk without an abdomen. Cardiodectes bellwoodi n. sp. parasitizes Istigobius nigroocellatus (Günther) in Australian waters and dif...

Teleost fishes have extra Hox gene clusters owing to shared or lineage-specific genome duplication events in rayfinned fish (actinopterygian) phylogeny. Hence, extrapolating between genome function of teleosts and human or even between different fish species is difficult. We have sequenced and analyzed Hox gene clusters of the Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus), an extant representative of t...

In order to better understand the complex geologic history of the Mediterranean area, we have analysed evolutionary history, phylogeographic structure and molecular diversity of freshwater fishes belonging to the genus Telestes. As primary freshwater fishes distributed largely in the Mediterranean basin, this genus represents a suitable model system for investigating the historical biogeography...

A total of 48 female spirlins Alburnoides sp. from the Kesselian stream (South Caspian Sea basin, northern Iran) were examined during a period from July 2008 to June 2009 to obtain data on fecundity, and to determine the spawning season of this carp. The mean absolute fecundity of females spirlin was 1722.92 (653.88) eggs. The fecundity has positive correlation with the size of the female. The...