AUTHOR=Silva-Santos Rosane , Ramirez Jorge L. , Galetti Pedro M. , Freitas Patrícia D. 

TITLE=Molecular Evidences of a Hidden Complex Scenario in Leporinus cf. friderici

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2018.00047

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2018.00047

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>The megadiversity of the neotropical ichthyofauna has been associated to recent diversification processes, reflecting in subtle or lacking morphological differentiation between species, challenging the classical taxonomic identification. <italic>Leporinus friderici</italic> occurs in several river basins of South America, and its nominal taxonomic validity has been questioned. Its wide distribution within the Brazilian Shield suggests that this species could be genetically structured among the hydrographic basins, despite a sharp morphological similarity. In this study, we performed phylogenetic analyses, based on three nuclear (recombination activating gene 1, RAG1, recombination activating gene 2, RAG2, and myosin heavy chain 6 cardiac muscle alpha gene, Myh6) and two mitochondrial (COI and Cytochrome b, Cytb) markers, in specimens morphologically similar to <italic>L. friderici</italic> and related species from different hydrographic basins in South America. Our phylogenetic tree identified four well-supported clades, which point out to the existence of taxonomic inconsistencies within this fish group. A clade named <italic>L</italic>. cf. <italic>friderici sensu stricto</italic> included eight Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units recently diversified in the Brazilian Shield basins. These results were also confirmed by a single-gene species delimitation analysis. It is suggested that this clade includes a species complex, characterizing taxonomic uncertainties. Another clade recovered only <italic>L. friderici</italic> from the Suriname rivers, validating this nominal species in its type locality. A third no-named clade, characterized by deeper species divergence, recovered five different nominal species interleaved with other undescribed forms previously also recognized as <italic>L.</italic> cf. <italic>friderici</italic>, indicating taxonomic errors. The fourth clade only included <italic>L. taeniatus</italic>. Our results showed a complex scenario involving the morphotype <italic>L.</italic> cf. <italic>friderici</italic> and allowed us to address aspects related to evolutionary diversification of this fish group and historical processes involved with, highlighting the importance of revealing hidden biodiversity for the taxonomy and conservationist action plans of these fish.</p>