Deep genetic divergences and few morphological changes support the cryptic speciation in Larimus breviceps (Sciaenidae, Acanthuriformes) from the western South Atlantic.

We evaluate the evidence of cryptic speciation in Larimus breviceps, a species widely distributed in the western South Atlantic, from the Greater Antilles to Santa Catarina in Brazil. Mitochondrial (COI, Cyt b, and Control Region) and nuclear (IGF1 and Tmo-4C4) sequences were obtained from populations in the western South Atlantic. The analysis revealed two genetically distinct, sympatric lineages with no gene flow, with L.

Species delimitation by DNA barcoding reveals undescribed diversity in Stelliferinae (Sciaenidae).

Stelliferinae is the third most speciose subfamily of Sciaenidae, with 51 recognized species arranged in five genera. Phylogenies derived from both morphological and molecular data support the monophyly of this subfamily, although there is no general consensus on the intergeneric relationships or the species diversity of this group. We used the barcoding region of the cytochrome oxidase C subunit I (COI) gene to verify the delimitation of Stelliferinae species based on the Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescence (GMYC), and Bayesian Poisson Tree Process (bPTP) methods.

Development of rapid and cost-effective multiplex PCR assays to differentiate catfish of the genus (Pimelodidae-Siluriformes) sold in Brazil.

The catfishes (Kumakuma), (Laulao catfish), and (gilded catfish) are important fishery resources in Brazil, where they are sold both fresh and in the form of fillets or steaks. These species have morphological similarities, thus, they can be easily misidentified or substituted, especially after processed. Therefore, accurate, sensitive, and reliable methods are needed for the identification of these species to avoid commercial fraud.

Re-visiting the occurrence of mislabeling in frozen "pescada-branca" (Cynoscion leiarchus and Plagioscion squamosissimus - Sciaenidae) sold in Brazil using DNA barcoding and octaplex PCR assay.

In Brazil, Cynoscion leiarchus and Plagioscion squamosissimus are the species allowed to be labeled as "pescada-branca". These species have high economic value, especially when sold in the form of fillets. Therefore, when morphological traits are removed, fish are highly prone to be substituted, which has been reported for species of the family Sciaenidae sold in Brazil, including "pescada-branca".

DNA barcoding reveals mislabeling and commercial fraud in the marketing of fillets of the genus Bleeker, 1862, the Amazonian freshwater catfishes economically important in Brazil.

The substitution and mislabeling is facilitated by the processing of fish products. We employed a DNA barcoding to authenticate fillets labeled as "dourada" (), and "piramutaba" () marketed in the Brazil. A 615 bp of the Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) was sequenced from 305 fillets and subsequently identified to species level by querying public databases and sequences of reference species.

Phylogeny of the genus Hypophthalmus Cuvier, 1829 (Pimelodidae - Siluriformes), based on a multilocus analysis, indicates diversification and introgression in the Amazon basin.

The genus Hypophthalmus encompasses four valid South American freshwater catfish species: H. marginatus, H. edentatus, H.

Phylogeny of the subfamily Stelliferinae suggests speciation in Ophioscion Gill, 1863 (Sciaenidae: Perciformes) in the western South Atlantic.

Phylogenies based on morphological and molecular data confirm the monophyly of the subfamily Stelliferinae; however, there is no consensus on the intergeneric and interspecific relationships in the group. Previous studies suggested the non-monophyly of Ophioscion and Stellifer, and possible cryptic species in Ophioscion punctatissimus. Therefore, we used mitochondrial (16S rDNA and COI) and nuclear (Rhodopsin, EGR1, and RAG1) regions to examine phylogenetic relationships among species of this subfamily.

Molecular phylogeny of weakfish species of the Stellifer group (Sciaenidae, Perciformes) of the western South Atlantic based on mitochondrial and nuclear data.

The phylogenetic relationships within the Stellifer group of weakfishes (Stellifer, Odontoscion, Ophioscion, and Bairdiella) were evaluated using 2723 base pairs comprising sequences of nuclear (rhodopsin, TMO-4C4, RAG-1) and mitochondrial (16S rRNA and COI) markers obtained from specimens of nine species. Our results indicate a close relationship between Bairdiella and Odontoscion, and also that the genus Stellifer is not monophyletic, but rather that it consists of two distinct lineages, one clade containing S. microps/S.

Genetic variation in native and farmed populations of Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) in the Brazilian Amazon: regional discrepancies in farming systems.

The tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum, is the most popular fish species used for aquaculture in Brazil but there is no study comparing genetic variation among native and farmed populations of this species. In the present study, we analyzed DNA sequences of the mitochondrial DNA to evaluate the genetic diversity among two wild populations, a fry-producing breeding stock, and a sample of fish farm stocks, all from the region of Santarém, in the west of the Brazilian state of Pará. Similar levels of genetic diversity were found in all the samples and surprisingly the breeding stock showed expressive representation of the genetic diversity registered on wild populations.

Mitochondrial DNA reveals population structuring in Macrodon atricauda (Perciformes: Sciaenidae): a study covering the whole geographic distribution of the species in the southwestern Atlantic.

We investigated the genetic structure and diversity of M. atricauda, based on 266 specimens collected off the coast of southern Brazil and Argentina at seven locations, covering the whole geographic distribution of this species. A DNA sequence alignment of 904 base pairs of the mitochondrial Control Region revealed a total of 85 haplotypes.

Molecular phylogeny of the western South Atlantic Sciaenidae based on mitochondrial and nuclear data.

Fragments of mitochondrial (COI and rRNA 16S) and nuclear (Tmo-4C4) genes were sequenced to evaluate the phylogenetic relationships among 15 genera of the western South Atlantic Sciaenidae, two freshwater genera and the northwest Pacific Larimichthys crocea. Our results suggest a great diversification for the western Atlantic assemblage; the monophyly of Macrodon, Menticirrhus and Plagioscion genera; the distinctiveness of Bardiella, Stellifer and Ophioscion as belonging to the same clade; the possible existence of two distinct groups in Stellifer; the closer relationship between Lonchurus and Paralonchurus; the non-monophyly of Cynoscion; and the remarkable diversification of Larimus breviceps populations in the Brazilian coast. This is the most comprehensive study evaluating the phylogenetic relationships of the western Atlantic sciaenid and provides a guide for future studies within this family.