Phylogenetic relationships within the fish family Goodeidae based on cytochrome b sequence data.

A phylogeny of the species in the family Goodeidae was constructed based on the complete mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp). Molecular phylogeny was used to revise current systematic of this group, to characterize the evolution of reproductive characters, and to infer a biogeographical model for the Mesa Central of Mexico during the Cenozoic period. We confirmed the monophyly of the subfamily Goodeinae and defined five different lineages within Goodeinae: Chapalichthyini, Girardinichthyini, Goodiini, Ilyodontini, and Charachontini. The morphology of trophotaeniae widely used to infer phylogenetic relationships within goodeids appears to be homoplasious. In a primitive condition, trophotaeniae seem to be very simple structure as occurs in the Charachontini lineage. There is an evolutionary trend to increase trophotaeniae surface via an increase in the number of branches (ribbon type) or branch widening (rosette type). Goodeidae originated in the middle Miocene and it was in the Pliocene when they radied their highest diversity during a dry period that caused basin splitting in the Mesa Central of Mexico.