Australoheros gen. nov. for the chanchitos

[michi tobler]

Character- and tree-based delimitation of species in the 'Cichlasoma' facetum group (Teleostei, Cichlidae) with the description of a new genus
O. Říčan1 and S. O. Kullander2

The 'Cichlasoma' facetum group is part of the taxonomically complex group of Neotropical cichlid fishes of the tribe Heroini. Many species groups and unplaced species of heroines are still left without a generic name following the revision of the genus Cichlasoma. We describe here the 'Cichlasoma' facetum group as a new genus, Australoheros, and provide evidence for its monophyly based on phylogenetic analyses of morphological and mtDNA characters. Australoheros is morphologically characterized by the lowest values in meristic characters among heroines and by three apomorphic characters in coloration pattern. In addition to the three described species of Australoheros, our results of species delimitation based on a combination of tree- and character-based approaches identify seven putatively new species of Australoheros. Several coding schemes of morphological characters are used to recover the intrageneric relationships within the genus, resulting in very similar topologies. Discovery of additional species within the genus is expected once material from the whole distribution area is studied.



Finally a name for the chanchitos!

Cheers, M

[Thomas Andersen]

Great news, Michi - thanks

Where is this paper published?

All the best,

Thomas

[Bas Pels]

I'll rename them in my notes.

Good name though - australoheros - Southern Heros, I've seen less fitting names.

Bas

[michi tobler]

Sorry folk that I forgot the citation (it was late last night;o):


Rican, O. & S. Kullander (2006):
Character- and tree-based delimitation of species in the 'Cichlasoma’ facetum group (Teleostei, Cichlidae) with the description of a new genus.
Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 2006
doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0469.2005.00347.x

[Lisachromis]

Very good. Nice to see some descriptions/naming going on for these guys.


Guess Juan better change a few things in the site then!

[Paulo José Alves]

Hi


I´m glad that the Cichlid that exists in my country´s waters at last has a real name and not "Cichlasoma", something that was not definitive and was between brackets. I knew by a Swedish cichlid breeder that Kullander ignored the presence of the Chanchito in Portugal, shame on him...
I agree with Bas Pels, Australoheros makes every sense.

[Willem Heijns]

just read the article on the new genus. it's interesting to learn about the way the authors delimit species. I'll have to study that a bit more .

one thing I noticed is that they use Cryptoheros in their cladogram. can we draw the conclusion that Allgayer gets the first recognition for that much debated genus?

[michi tobler]

Willem,

regarding Cryptoheros: probably yes? Interestingly, Kullander was one of the opponents of Cryptoheros and now he uses it...?

But there's news upcoming in this regard anyway...;o) Cryptoheros will not be what it used to be;o)

Cheers, M

[Willem Heijns]

let's have it, Michi

[Thomas Andersen]

Michi, come on You can´t start telling things like this, without telling more

Thomas

[Philippe Burnel]

I agree but if there is a paper to be published about this, nothing can be said before the publication is done.

[Willem Heijns]

Australoheros hasn't been published (yet) either

[Philippe Burnel]

But available on the web as paper signed by the authors and "published on the web" by the journal that will publish it, so it's different.
Of course, this publication will be really valid when it'll be published in the journal.

Sorry but my english is not good enough to explain, but I'm sure that you know what I mean.

[michi tobler]

Sorry, guys I really can't give details... but there's a revision pending. Maybe we get lucky and see it this year...

Cheers, m

[Juan Artigas]

But for the time being, we have to regard Allgayer's Cryptoheros species as included in the genus.

I also noticed Kullander changed his mind about Thorichthys maculipinnis as not being valid name. I am glad about this.

[michi tobler]

But for the time being, we have to regard Allgayer's Cryptoheros species as included in the genus.

Juan, that's your interpretation;o) But let's not get into this again;o))

Cheers, M

[Juan Artigas]

Juan, that's your interpretation;o) But let's not get into this again;o))

In fact it is not my interpretation, I am not Cryptoheros author. It is Allgayer's description. Cryptoheros now recognized even by Kullander (one of its main oponents).

[Don Hiatt]

Hi Michi,
Other then sharing a resemblance to this new genus, what are the grounds for including Cryptoheros within Australoheros? The two groups are separated by half a continent.

Loisell did call the Crytoheros species "Chanchitos" in his book, but I didn't think he was stating there was any true relationship there.

Also, what species are considered valid at this time?

[Juan Artigas]

Don,

In fact Cryptoheros are not considered together with Australoheros, the comments derive from the fact that a cladogram was included in the paper showing the relationship of Australoheros with other American cichlids, including Cryptoheros and Thorichthys species.

[Don Hiatt]

Very interesting Juan. Thanks for the reply.

I found this on the web.
http://www.pecescriollos.de/go/australoheros-facetus