Morphology, molecules, and monogenean parasites: an example of an integrative approach to cichlid biodiversity.

ABSTRACT: The unparalleled biodiversity of Lake Tanganyika (Africa) has fascinated biologists for over a century; its unique cichlid communities are a preferred model for evolutionary research. Although species delineation is, in most cases, relatively straightforward, higher-order classifications were shown not to agree with monophyletic groups. Here, traditional morphological methods meet their limitations. A typical example are the tropheine cichlids currently belonging to Simochromis and Pseudosimochromis. The affiliations of these widespread and abundant cichlids are poorly understood. Molecular work suggested that genus and species boundaries should be revised. Moreover, previous morphological results indicated that intraspecific variation should be considered to delineate species in Lake Tang

SUBMITTER: Van Steenberge M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4414595 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature