Phylogenomic resolution of lampreys reveals the recent evolution of an ancient vertebrate lineage.

Jawless vertebrates once dominated Palaeozoic waters, but just two lineages have persisted to the present day: lampreys and hagfishes. Living lampreys are a relatively small clade, with just over 50 species described, but knowledge of their evolutionary relationships has always been based on either a few mitochondrial genes or a small number of taxa. Biogeographers have noted the disjunct antitropical distribution of living lamprey families.

Phylogeography of the Mesa Silverside fish (Woolman, 1894) throughout the Mexican Plateau.

Background: Understanding the processes that influence distribution of organisms is a major goal in evolutionary biology. Speciation in freshwater fishes is mainly associated with the "island-like" model of evolution, in which the formation of land barriers between different hydrographic basins interrupts gene flow and promotes isolation. Freshwater fish therefore provide an excellent model system for macro- and micro-evolutionary studies.

Life in the fastlane? A comparative analysis of gene expression profiles across annual, semi-annual, and non-annual killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae).

The Turquoise Killifish is an important vertebrate for the study of aging and age-related diseases due to its short lifespan. Within Nothobranchiidae, species possess annual, semi-annual, or non-annual life-histories. We took a comparative approach and examined gene expression profiles (QuantSeq) from 62 individuals from eleven nothobranchid species that span three life-histories.

Disentangling historical relationships within Poeciliidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes) using ultraconserved elements.

Poeciliids (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae), commonly known as livebearers, are popular fishes in the aquarium trade (e.g., guppies, mollies, swordtails) that are widely distributed in the Americas, with 274 valid species in 27 genera.