Alestidae

Mirande, Juan Marcos, 2010, Phylogeny of the family Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes): from characters to taxonomy, Neotropical Ichthyology 8 (3), pp. 385-568 : 474

Node 185: Alestidae (100 / 100 / 46 / 19)

Genera Alestes , Alestopetersius Hoedeman , Arnoldichthys Myers , Bathyaethiops Fowler , Brachypetersius Hoedeman , Brycinus , Bryconaethiops , Bryconalestes , Chalceus , Clupeocharax Pellegrin , Duboisialestes Poll , Hemigrammopetersius , Hydrocynus , Ladigesia Géry , Lepidarchus Roberts , Micralestes , Nannopetersius Hoedeman , Petersius Hilgendorf , Phenacogrammus Eigenmann , Rhabdalestes , Tricuspidalestes Poll , and Virilia Roberts.

The monophyly of the Alestidae as composed of the “African characids” of Greenwood et al. (1966) was not greatly discussed in the literature. The phylogenetic analysis of the Alestidae by Zanata & Vari (2005) represented a great improvement in the knowledge of the morphology and phylogeny of the family. These authors defined the monophyly of the family and proposed the Neotropical genus Chalceus as the sister group of the remaining alestids. Thus, at present, Alestidae is the unique trans-Atlantic family within the Characiformes . The results obtained herein concerning this group are congruent with the hypothesis of Zanata & Vari (2005).

Synapomorphies:

1. Overlap of maxilla by second infraorbital (61): (1> 0) absent. Paralleled in node 205. Some trees: Paralleled in node 302.

2. Dorsal end of laterosensory canal of preopercle and suprapreopercle (82): (0> 1) overlapping anterodorsal process of opercle. Paralleled in node 230 and in Bario steindachneri , Hyphessobrycon eques , Parecbasis cyclolepis , Pristella maxillaris , and Stichonodon insignis .

3. Degree of ventral curvature of lateral line (90): (0> 1) distinctly curved and ventrally situated, with posterior lying within ventral half of caudal peduncle and aligned with lower lobe of caudal fin. Paralleled in the Bryconops clade. Reversed in Bryconaethiops macrops .

4. Form of anterior portion of ectopterygoid (157): (0> 1) slender and articulating only to lateral margin of palatine, and lacking ligaments to neurocranium. Paralleled in node 170 and in Agoniates anchovia and Attonitus ephimeros .

5. Edentulous basihyal lamella (189): (0> 1) present. Paralleled in the Heterocharacinae , in nodes 175 and 302, and in Bryconops affinis and Carnegiella strigata .

6. Number of branched anal-fin rays (287): (1> 0) 17 or less. Reversal of synapomorphy 6 of the Characoidea . Paralleled in nodes 280 and 290, and in Attonitus ephimeros and Prodontocharax melanotus . Some trees: Reversed in Hasemania nana . Paralleled in node 182.

7. Lateral lamellae on anterior anal pterygiophores (295): (0> 1) present. Reversal of synapomorphy 7 of the Characoidea . 8. Number of epurals (297): (0> 1) three. Paralleled in node 167 and in Brycon meeki .

9. Posterior margin of hypural 3 (300): (1> 0) equal to or narrower than posterior margin of hypural 4. Paralleled in Engraulisoma taeniatum and in node 181.