Phylogeny of the Labeoninae (Teleostei, Cypriniformes) based on nuclear DNA sequences and implications on character evolution and biogeography

The Labeoninae is a subfamily of the family Cyprinidae, Order Cypriniformes. Oromandibular morphology within the Labeoninae is the greatest among cyprinid fishes. Although several phylogenetic studies about labeonines have been undertaken the results have been inconsistent and a comprehensive phylogeny is needed. Further, an incongruence between morphological and molecular phylogeny requires a systematic exploration of the significance of morphological characters on the basis of the molecular phylogeny. In this study, a total of 292 nucleotide sequences from 73 individuals (representing 24 genera and 73 species) of Labeoninae were analyzed. The results of the phylogenetic analysis indicate that there are four major clades within Labeoninae and three monophyletic lineages within the fourth clade. Results of the character evolution show that all oromandibular morphological characters are homoplastically distributed on the molecular phylogenetic tree and suggests that these characters evolved several times during the history of labeonines. In particular, the labeonine, a specific disc on the lower lip, has been acquired three times and reversed twice. These morphological characters do not have systematic significance but can be useful for taxonomy. The results of biogeography suggest that the Labeoninae originated from Southeast Asia and separately dispersed to Africa, East Asia and South Asia [Current Zoology 58 (6): 837-850, 2012].