Mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence variations and phylogeny of the Chinese sisorid catfishes

Partial sequences of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were obtained by PCR amplification for comparisons among nine species of glyptosternoid fishes and six species of non-glyptosternoids representing 10 sisorid genera. There are compositional biases in the A-rich unpaired regions and G-rich paired regions. A-G transitions are primarily responsible for the Ts/Tv bias in unpaired regions. The overall substitution rate in unpaired regions is almost two times higher than that in the paired regions. Saturation plots at comparable levels of sequence divergence demonstrate no saturation effects. Phylogenetic analyses using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods support the monophyly of Sisoridae. Chinese sisorid catfishes are composed of two majorlineages, one represented by (Gagata (Bagarius, Glyptothorax)) and the other by “glyptosternoids Pseudecheneis“. The glyptosternoids may not be a monophyletic group. A previous hypothesis referring to Pseudecheneis as the sister group of monophyletic glyptosternoids, based on morphological evidence, is not supported by the molecular data. Pseudecheneis is shown to be a sister taxon of Glaridoglanis. Pareuchiloglanis might be paraphyletic with Pseudexostoma and Euchiloglanis. Our results also support the hypothesis that Pareuchiloglanis anteanalis might be considered as the synonyms of Pareuchiloglanis sinensis, and genus Euchiloglanis might have only one valid species, Euchiloglanis davidi.

Mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequence variations and phylogeny of the Chinese sisorid catfishes

Partial sequences of mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were obtained by PCR amplification for comparisons among nine species of glyptosternoid fishes and six species of non-glyptosternoids representing 10 sisorid genera. There are compositional biases in the A-rich unpaired regions and G-rich paired regions. A-G transitions are primarily responsible for theTs/Tv bias in unpaired regions. The overall substitution rate in unpaired regions is almost two times higher than that in the paired regions. Saturation plots at comparable levels of sequence divergence demonstrate no saturation effects. Phylogenetic analyses using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods support the monophyly of Sisoridae. Chinese sisorid catfishes are composed of two major lineages, one represented by (Gagata (Bagarius, Glyptothorax)) and the other by “glyptosternoids +Pseudecheneis”. The glyptosternoids may not be a monophyletic group. A previous hypothesis referring toPseudecheneis as the sister group of monophyletic glyptosternoids, based on morphological evidence, is not supported by the molecular data.Pseudecheneis is shown to be a sister taon ofGlaridoglanis. Pareuchiloglanis might be paraphyletic withPseudexostoma andEuchiloglanis. Our results also support the hypothesis thatPareuchiloglanis anteanalis might be considered as the synonyms ofPureuchiloglanis sinensis, and genusEuchiloglanis might have only one valid species,Euchiloglanis davidi.