Evolution of miniaturization and the phylogenetic position of Paedocypris, comprising the world's smallest vertebrate.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Paedocypris, a highly developmentally truncated fish from peat swamp forests in Southeast Asia, comprises the world's smallest vertebrate. Although clearly a cyprinid fish, a hypothesis about its phylogenetic position among the subfamilies of this largest teleost family, with over 2400 species, does not exist. Here we present a phylogenetic analyses of 227 cypriniform taxa, including 213 cyprinids, based upon complete mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b nucleotide sequences in order to determine the phylogenetic position of Paedocypris and to study the evolution of miniaturization among cyprinids.

Results

Our analyses reveal a strongly supported sister group relationship (clade C) between Paedocypris and Sundadanio, another developmentally truncated miniature cyprinid.

SUBMITTER: Ruber L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1838906 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature