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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Sand-smelts are small fishes inhabiting inshore, brackish and freshwater environments and with a distribution
in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, extending south into the Indian Ocean. Here, we
present a broad phylogenetic analysis of the genus Atherina using three mitochondrial (control region,
12S and 16S) and two nuclear markers (rhodopsin and 2nd intron of S7). Phylogenetic analyses fully support
the monophyly of the genus. Two anti-tropical clades were identified, separating the South African
Atherina breviceps from the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Atherina’ species. In European
waters, two groups were found. The first clade formed by a well supported species-pair: Atherina presbyter
(eastern Atlantic) and Atherina hepsetus (Mediterranean), both living in marine waters; a second clade
included Atherina boyeri (brackish and freshwater environments) and two independent lineages of marine
punctated and non-punctated fishes, recently proposed as separate species. Sequence divergence values
strongly suggest multiple species within the A. boyeri complex.
Description
Keywords
Phylogeny Atherina boyeri Atherina presbyter Atherina hepsetus Atherina breviceps Punctated and non-punctated forms
Citation
Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 61, 71-78
Publisher
Elsevier