O. A. Radchenko, I. A. Chereshnev, A. V. Petrovskaya - Genetic differentiation of species and taxonomic structure of the superfamily Stichaeoidea (Perciformes: Zoarcoidei)

BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2014, Vol. 40, No. 6, pp. 481-492

Genetic differentiation of species and taxonomic structure of the superfamily Stichaeoidea (Perciformes: Zoarcoidei)

Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan 685000

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Basing on the analysis of nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial (COI, cytochrome b, 16S rRNA genes) and nuclear (RNF213 and rhodopsin genes) molecular markers, we defined the levels of divergence, relationships, and structure of the superfamily Stichaeoidea of the suborder Zoarcoidei. The system of the superfamily based on morphological data that was offered by Makushok (1958) is not confirmed by the molecular and genetic results. Our invstigations suggest that not only the families Stichaeidae, Pholidae, and Ptilichthyidae, but also the Zaproridae and Cryptacanthodidae should be included in the superfamily Stichaeoidea, while the family Anarhichadidae should be excluded from it.

Key words: superfamily Stichaeoidea, suborder Zoarcoidei, mitochondrial DNA, COI, cytochrome b, 16S rRNA genes, nuclear DNA, RNF213 and rhodopsin genes, genetic divergence, taxonomic structure.