Phylogenetic realtionship of subfamilies and genera of Haemulidae (Actinopterigii: Perciformes) using mitochondrial gene (COI) sequences

Haemulidae is one of the ten most diverse, widespread, and conspicuous families within the largest sub-order of teleost fishes, the Percoidei. This family, with broad geographic distributionis, is divided in two subfamilies, Haemulinae and Plectorhynchinae, including more than 17 genera and 135 species. The monophyly of some genera has been hotly debated in the past and present. In This study mithocodrial gene(COI) sequences of 77 Haemulidae taxa representing both extant subfamilies were obtained from genbank, aligned and were analyzed. Also sequences from 3 representing family Lutjanidae were considered as outgroups. We used some softwares such as Mega v.6.06., Figtree v1.2.4., Mr Bayes v.3.2.0, Bioedit v.7.2.5 and raxmlGUIv1.3. Based on Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) results obtained from selected gene, it was inferred that both subfamilies are not monophyletic. The genus Haemulon, which has numerous species, is monophylytic, but the genera Pomadasys, Conodon, Rhonciscus, Plectorhinchus, Anisotremus and Diagramma were shown not to be monophyletic and thus more approaches are needed.

Keywords:

Monophylytic , Paraphyletic , Taxonomic status.