Molecular phylogeny of gobioid fishes (Perciformes : Gobioidei) based on mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequences

The molecular phylogeny of the gobioid fishes, comprising 33 genera and 43 valid species, was examined by use of complete mitochondrial 12S rRNA and t RNA(VAL) genes. Both parsimony and neighbor-joining analyses revealed compa rable results and are generally congruent with those of morphological studi es. The Odontobutis, which was always placed at the base of the phylogeneti c trees, can be treated as a sister group of all other nonrhyacichthyid gob ioids. Within eleotrid fishes, the monophyly of the Eleotrinae is strongly supported by molecular data. The Butinae is closer to fishes with five bran chiostegal rays and should be treated as a sister group of the latter. The group with five branchiostegal rays, except for sicydiines, can be divided into two groups according to their epural counts. Fish with one epural, the Gobiinae of Pezold plus Microdesmidae, form a monophyletic group which is sister to those with two epurals, the Oxudercinae and Gobionellinae of Pezo ld. However, Sicydiinae, which have one epural, are closer to the Oxudercin ae and Gobionellinae rather than to the Gobiinae. Since progressive reducti on in epural number has been observed along this lineage, the sicydiines sh ould be treated as a derived group within the groups with two epurals. (C) 2001 Academic Press.