Phylogeny of the Loricariids


Pseudolithoxus anthrax, photo by M.H. Sabaj

The following tree is a modification of the trees from Armbruster (2004) with a little new data thrown in. The trees from Armbruster (2004) are below that, and hopefully they will shed a little light on the taxonomic decisions that were made. Click here to see a pdf of the appendix that details the changes along the branches and here for character definitions. Armbruster (2004) can be downloaded from the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society if your library has access or please request a copy from me.
PHYLOGENY

This tree is a simplified phylogeny

The next three trees are the ones from Armbruster (2004). The names on some of the branches have not been changed to represent the taxonomy in Armbruster (2004) so that you can see why some of the taxonomic changes were made. For the most part, only monophyletic genera were accepted, and an attempt was to limit the number of small or monotypic genera whenever possible. Note: Upsilodus is now a synonym of Hemipsilichthys and what was then called Hemipsilichthys is now known Pareiorhaphis.

Fig. 36. Relationships of Astroblepus, Lithogenes, hypostomine tribes, and the nonhypostomine loricariids based on the ordered analysis. this is part of a strict consensus of 5098 most parsimonious trees of 1328 steps, CI = 0.203, remainder of consensus tree is in Figures 37 and 38. Numbers above branches are clade numbers, numbers below are decay indices.

Fig. 37. Relationships of the hypostomine tribes and taxa withion the Corumbophanini, Rhinelepini, hypostomini, and Pterygoplicthyini based on the ordered analysis. this is part of a strict consensus of 5098 most parsimonious trees of 1328 steps, CI = 0.203, remainder of consensus tree is in Figures 36 and 38. Numbers above branches are clade numbers, numbers below are decay indices. 1. Aphanotorulus, Cochliodon, and Isorineloricaria are placed in Hypostomus. 2. The Hemiancistrus annectens group represents an undescribed genus, Hypostomus panamensis is now placed in Hemiancistrus. 3 Glyptoperichthys and Liposarcus are placed in Pterygoplichthys.

Fig. 38. Relationships of the taxa within the Ancistrini based on the ordered analysis. This is part of a strict consensus of 5098 most parsimonious trees of 1328 steps, CI = 0.203, remainder of consensus tree is in Figures 37 and 38. Numbers above branches are clade numbers, numbers below are decay indices.1 Hemiancistrus landoni represens and undescribed genus. 2 Oligancistrus is placed in Spectracanthicus. 3. Cordylancistrus platyrhynchus is transferred to Chaetostoma. 4 Lithoxancistrus and Guyanancistrus are transferred to Pseudancistrus.

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If you have questions or comments, please contact Jon Armbruster at armbrjw@mail.auburn.edu.