PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE BUNOCOTYLINAE-DOLLFUS, 1950 (DIGENEA, HEMIURIDAE)

The phylogenetic analysis of the 16 recognized genera in the Bunocotyl inae, based upon 30 morphological transformation series, produced 2 mo st parsimonious trees, each with a consistency index of 0.62. The mono phyly of the group is supported by 6 synapomorphies. Ahemiurus, Aphanu roides, Aphanurus, Myosaccium and Indoderogenes separate independently in the basal part of the tree. Saturnius and Bunocotyle separate next , forming a clade. Machidatrema, Duosphincter, Theletrum, and Monoleci thotrema separate independently; and in the most derived part of the t ree Opisthadena + Neopisthadena + Mitrostoma, Genolinea, and Neothelet rum grouped together form a clade. Optimization of hosts and geographi c distribution onto the 2 most parsimonious trees suggests that the bu nocotylines originated from an ancestor that was host specific to fish es of the Clupeidae and was distributed in the Tethys Sea.