Micropoecilia Hubbs

Lucinda, Paulo Henrique Franco & Reis, Roberto E., 2005, Systematics of the subfamily Poeciliinae Bonaparte (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae), with an emphasis on the tribe Cnesterodontini Hubbs, Neotropical Ichthyology 3 (1), pp. 1-60 : 46-47

Micropoecilia Hubbs

Micropoecilia Hubbs, 1926: 73 . Poecilia vivipara parae Eigenmann, 1894 . Type by original designation. For purposes of the type species, the subspecies parae is elevated to species level; type not P. vivipara .

Recepoecilia Whitley, 1951: 68 . Poecilia vivipara parae Eigenmann, 1894 . Type by being a replacement name. For purposes of the type species, the subspecies P. v. parae is elevated to species level; type not P. vivipara . Unneeded replacement for Micropoecilia Hubbs, 1926 not preoccupied by Micropoecila Kraatz, 1880 in Coleoptera .

Composition. Micropoecilia minima (Costa & Sarraf), M. picta (Regan) , M. parae (Eigenmann) , M. bifurca (Eigenmann) , and M. branneri (Eigenmann) .

Distribution. Drainage of the rio Amazonas, rio Guamá basin, coastal drainages of Brazil, French Guyana, Guyana, and Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago.

Remarks. The tree topology placed “ Poecilia ” reticulata as the sister group of the Micropoecilia clade and far from the type-species of the genus, Poecilia vivipara . This fact brings taxonomic and nomenclatural implications, since the generic name Poecilia cannot be applied to the reticulata species. The most parsimonious action should be the merging of “ Poecilia ” reticulata with the genus Micropoecilia Hubbs, 1926 .

“ Poecilia ” reticulata was originally described as Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 and Lebistes poecilioides De Fillipi, 1861 is considered a junior synonym. Lebistes poecilioides , whose types are lost, was described as a new genus and a new species. Since the name Lebistes is older than Micropoecilia it has priority and Micropoecilia should be considered a junior synonym of Lebistes . However, Poeser & Isbrücker (2002) suggested, based on evidence on the original description of De Fillipi, that L. poecilioides is not equal to Poecilia reticulata . If it is the case, Lebistes cannot be a synonym of Micropoecilia . However, Eigenmann (1907) erected the genus Acanthophacelus for Poecilia reticulata , thus if Micropoecilia species and “ Poecilia ” reticulata are merged under the same generic name, Acanthophacelus Eigenmann, 1907 has priority over Micropoecilia Hubbs, 1926 and therefore should be resurrected and revalidated. Given that the types of Lebistes poecilioides are lost and that De Fillipi’s description is probably not acurate and reliable, any nomenclatural action is premature and also depends upon a more inclusive phylogenetic analysis among members of the tribe Poeciliini . This analysis could address the question more thoroughly. At the moment, unless Lebistes poecilioides types or unquestionable evidence are found Lebistes poecilioides and Poecilia reticulata should be regarded Incertae Sedis in Poeciliinae .

Tribe Cnesterodontini Hubbs , new usage [Clade 111]

Cnesterodontini Hubbs, 1924: 8 . Type-genus: Cnesterodon Garman, 1895

Diagnosis. Cnesterodontins share the following uniquely derived and unreversed features: (1) males with five pelvicfin rays [33-1**]; (2) pedicel in R3 united to R4 [90-1**]; (3) pedicel at tip of R3 [91-1**]; and (4) membranous appendix at tip of R3 [92-1**].

Additionally, the tribe Cnesterodontini can be diagnosed by the following not uniquely derived and/or reversed features: (1) absence of an epiotic process [3-3]; (2) posterior section of posterior remnant of infraorbital system opened into a groove [7-1]; (3) preorbital canal absent or opened, forming a very shallow groove [9-2]; (4) post-temporal unbranched [31-1]; (5) females with five pelvic-fin rays [44-1]; (6) pleural ribs 6, 7, and 8 in adult males curved forward converging to the same point towards pelvic girdle [59-2*]; (7) eight dorsal-fin rays (males and females) [64-2]; (8) adult males with anterior process on base of fifth middle anal-fin radial pointed and upward directed [78-1]; (9) membranous tip anterior to R4 and R5 curved downwards [110-1]; (10) small membranous tip anterior to R4 and R5 [111-1]; (11) four to seven subdistal retrorse spines on R4p [116-2]; and (12) expanded distal portion of R6 [128-1].

Composition. Genera Cnesterodon , Phallotorynus , and Phalloceros .

Distribution. Southern South America.