Taxonomy of the Neotropical Thorny Catfishes (Siluriformes: Doradidae) and Revision of Genus Leptodoras

Cladistic analysis of relationships among Leptodoras and related taxa (Anduzedoras, Doras, Hassar, Hemidoras) using morphological data recovers Leptodoras praelongus (Myers & Weitzman) as the most ancestral species. The most derived clade is composed of two nominal species, Leptodoras juruensis Boulenger and Leptodoras myersi Bohlke, and one undescribed species, Leptodoras sp. 3. A sister-group relationship between Leptodoras and the monotypic Anduzedoras oxyrhynchus (Valenciennes) is supported by four unambiguous synapomorphies: predorsal distance ≤41% of standard length, first vertebra conspicuously expanded, maxillary edentulous, and average sum of midlateral scutes ≥70. This relationship and those among species of Leptodoras suggest a gradual evolution from a midwater or hyperbenthic form to a truly benthic, relatively deepwater form.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Animal Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Sabaj, Mark Henry

Contributors dc:contributor

• Page, Lawrence M.

• Biology, Genetics

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3070424

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87841