An integrative phylogenetic approach for inferring relationships of fossil gobioids (Teleostei: Gobiiformes)

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271121
• Publication Date: 2022-07-08T18:09:54Z
• Authors: Christoph Gierl; Martin Dohrmann; Philippe Keith; William Humphreys; Hamid R. Esmaeili; Jasna Vukić; Radek Šanda; Bettina Reichenba...
• Keywords: Synapomorphy; Supermatrix; Character evolution

The suborder Gobioidei is among the most diverse groups of vertebrates, comprising about 2310 species. In fossil record gobioids date back to early Eocene (c. 50 m.y. ago), and a considerable increase in numbers described species evident since middle Miocene 16 ago). About 40 skeleton-based gobioid > 100 otolith-based have been until date. However, assignment specific families has often remained tentative, even if well preserved complete specimens are available. reasons that synapomorphies can be recognized skeleton rare (or absent) no phylogenetic framework applicable fossils exists. Here we aim overcome this problem by developing total evidence suitable place at family level. Using both literature newly collected data assembled morphological character matrix (48 characters) for 29 extant species, representing all families, ten compiled multi-gene concatenated alignment (supermatrix; 6271 bp) published molecular sequence Bayesian Maximum Parsimony analyses revealed our selection was sufficient achieve ‘backbone’ fully conforms previous work. Our inclusion simultaneously produced very poorly resolved trees, some taxa. contrast, addition single set provided new insight its possible placement level, especially framework. Five out were recovered same as had suggested works based on comparative morphology. remaining five hitherto left incertae sedis . Now, framework, mostly supported hypotheses which clades they could belong presented. We conclude presented here will beneficial future work dealing with thus help improve understanding evolutionary history these fascinating fishes. Moreover, highlight increased sampling taxa total-evidence context not universally beneficial, might expected, but strongly depends study group peculiarities data.