Mitogenomic sequences and evidence from unique gene rearrangements corroborate evolutionary relationships of myctophiformes (Neoteleostei).

ABSTRACT:

Background

A skewed assemblage of two epi-, meso- and bathypelagic fish families makes up the order Myctophiformes - the blackchins Neoscopelidae and the lanternfishes Myctophidae. The six rare neoscopelids show few morphological specializations whereas the divergent myctophids have evolved into about 250 species, of which many show massive abundances and wide distributions. In fact, Myctophidae is by far the most abundant fish family in the world, with plausible estimates of more than half of the oceans combined fish biomass. Myctophids possess a unique communication system of species-specific photophore patterns and traditional intrafamilial classification has been established to reflect arrangements of photophores. Myctophids present the most diverse array of larval body forms f

SUBMITTER: Poulsen JY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3682873 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature