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Type: Article
Published: 2015-08-10
Page range: 211–234
Abstract views: 108
PDF downloaded: 78

Taxonomy and systematics of the herichthyins (Cichlidae: Tribe Heroini), with the description of eight new Middle American Genera

The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 USA.
Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Col. Lajas Maciel, C.P. 29039, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, Mexico
Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU 10736, Hammond, LA 70402.
LSU Museum of Natural Science (Ichthyology), Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA.
cichlid revision Mexico Central America morphology

Abstract

In recent years great strides have been made for improving our understanding of the evolutionary relationships among neotropical cichlids, particularly within the clade Heroini and its crown clade the herichthyins. Most phylogenetic studies have largely converged on congruent topologies for relationships among species and major lineages within the herichthyins. One major aspect missing from previous studies of these cichlids is a formal taxonomic revision, including the redefining of genera. Based on analysis of  52 species and three mitochondrial and two nuclear loci, we generate a Bayesian phylogeny for the herichthyin cichlids, and formally revise the taxonomy for genera within this clade using morphological features. Eight new genera are recognized and a key to all 16 genera of herichthyin cichlids is also presented.