Osteology and myology of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of the Chinese catfish Cranoglanis bouderius, with a discussion on the autapomorphies and phylogenetic relationships of the Cranoglanididae (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

Abstract

The cephalic and pectoral girdle structures of the Chinese catfish Cranoglanis bouderius are described and compared with those of other catfishes as the foundation for an analysis on the Cranoglanididae autapomorphies and also for a discussion on the phylogenetic relationships between the cranoglanidids and the other catfishes. Our observations and comparisons indicate that cranoglanidids are defined, at least, by four autapomorphies, namely: 1) the cartilages associated with the mandibular barbels are broad, somewhat circular; 2) epioccipital with a well-developed posterodorsal process, which presents a large, deep, circular posterior concavity; 3) a well-defined, deep, anteroposteriorly elongated concavity formed by both the frontal and the lateral ethmoid to receive the anteromedial surface of the metapterygoid; 4) the adductor mandibulae A3" is dorsally divided into two bundles and partially inserted on the posterior portion of the primordial ligament. With respect to the phylogenetic relationships of the Cranoglanididae, this study strongly suggests that these fishes are probably closely related to the Ariidae and the Claroteidae.

Description and scaling of pectoral muscles in ictalurid catfishes

“…Although catfish spine morphology has been described extensively (Hubbs and Hibbard,1951; Paloumpis,1963; Fine and Ladich,2003; Duvall,2007), few recent studies have focused on the muscles of these spines. Diogo et al (2001) described the morphology of catfish pectoral musculature in eight families but did not include the Ictaluridae although they and other families are mentioned in Diogo's (2004) book. The Ictaluridae is a monophyletic family endemic to North America (Grande and Lundberg,1988) within which considerable differences exist (LeGrande,1981).…”

Osteology and myology of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of Pimelodus blochii , comparison with other pimelodines, and comments on the synapomorphies and phylogenetic relationships of the Pimelodinae (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)

“…The origin of the levator operculi on both the neurocranium and the hyomandibulo-metapterygoid is a very rare feature among catfishes, being only present, apart from the pimelodids, in a few catfishes such as plotosids, cranoglanidids, schilbids and silurids (Diogo & Vandewalle 2003). As these latter four groups are seemingly more closely related to other catfish taxa than to pimelodines, heptapterines and/ or pseudopimelodines (Mo 1991;de Pinna 1998;Diogo et al 2002a;Diogo 2004), this character also supports the monophyly of the Pimelodidae.…”

“…Contrarily to the vast majority of the Siluriformes, in which the anterior portion of the ethmoid cartilage does not extend far beyond the anterior margin of the lateral ethmoids (see, e.g., Mo 1991;Diogo & Chardon 2000c), in the pimelodines, pseudo-pimelodines and heptapterines examined this cartilage is markedly extended anteriorly, almost reaching the posterior margin of the premaxillaries; such a feature is, again, extremely rare among catfishes, only being found so far apart from the pimelodines in the austroglanidids claroteins and schilbids (see, e.g., Diogo & Chardon 2000c: Figures 5 and 6). As these three groups are seemingly more closely related to certain other catfish groups than to pimelodines, heptapterines and/or pseudopimelodines (Mo 1991;de Pinna 1998;Diogo et al 2002a;Diogo 2003Diogo , 2004, this character constitutes one more argument on behalf of the monophyly of the family Pimelodidae.…”

Osteology and myology of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of Schilbe mystus and comparison with other schilbids, with comments on the monophyly and phylogenetic relationships of the Schilbidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes)

“…According to our observations and phylogenetic comparisons, the schilbids are closely related to the pangasiid cat shes, with this close relationship supported by two peculiar, synapomorphic features, of which the rst one is inclusively uniquely present in these two groups: 1) the anterior margin of the cartilages associated with the mandibular barbels is somewhat bifurcated, presenting two anterolateral arms; 2) there is a true foramen between the dorsal surfaces of the frontal and the lateral ethmoid. As other studies recently published by the authors (Diogo et al, 1999(Diogo et al, , 2000a(Diogo et al, , b, 2001c(Diogo et al, , 2002aDiogo and Chardon, 2000c;Oliveira et al, 2001), the present work also indicates, therefore, that the analysis of certain characters that are not usually included in a study of cat sh phylogeny, such as those concerning the con guration of the cephalic musculature or the structures associated with the mandibular barbels, could reveal useful data to infer the phylogeny of these shes. R. Diogo: PRAXIS XXI/BD/19533/99 ("Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia", Portuguese Federal Government).…”