Evolutionary history of frogfishes (Teleostei: Lophiiformes: Antennariidae): A molecular approach

Fishes of the family Antennariidae (order Lophiiformes) are primarily shallow-water benthic forms found in nearly all tropical and subtropical oceans and seas of the world, with some taxa extending into temperate waters. Despite an earlier attempt based on morphology, no previous hypothesis of intergeneric relationships of the Antennariidae exists. To resolve phylogenetic relationships within the Antennariidae, and to test the validity of species groups within Antennarius, DNA sequences from the mitochondrial 16S and cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 (COI) genes, and nuclear recombination activating gene 2 (RAG2), for 25 described and four undescribed antennariid species, representing 10 of 12 known genera and one undescribed genus, were unambiguously aligned and analyzed using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods. The markers were partitioned and analyzed for substitution saturation and only the third codon position of COI (COI-3) was found to have reached saturation. However, analysis of both datasets, one with the saturated data and one without, differed only slightly. All molecular analyses recovered two major clades, one comprised of Fowlerichthys, Antennarius, Histrio, and Antennatus; and another containing Rhycherus, Antennariidae gen. et sp. nov., Kuiterichthys, Phyllophryne, Echinophryne, Tathicarpus, Lophiocharon, and Histiophryne. Evidence is presented to illustrate a correlation between phylogeny, geographic distribution, and reproductive life history. The results of these analyses provide the first hypothesis of evolutionary relationships within the Antennariidae.

Highlights► The first hypothesis for the evolutionary relationships of frogfishes (Family Antennariidae) is presented based on DNA. ► Subfamilies Antennariinae and Histiophryninae are erected to serve for two major clades recovered in all analyses. ► Fowlerichthys is resurrected to serve for members of the Antennarius ocellatus group, with the exception of Antennarius indicus. ► The Antennarius nummifer group is reallocated to Antennatus; A. indicus is reallocated to the Antennarius striatus group. ► Geographic distribution and reproductive life history support relationships recovered by the molecular analyses.