Sequenced biological macromolecules have revitalized systematic studies of evolutionary history. Molecular Systematics of Fishes is the first authoritative overview of the theory and application of these sequencing data to fishes. This volume explores the phylogeny of fishes at multiple taxonomic levels, uses methods of analysis of molecular data that apply both within and between fish populations, and employs molecule-based phylogenies to address broader questions of evolution. Targeted readers include ichthyologists, marine scientists, and all students, faculty, and researchers interested in fish evolution and ecology and vertebrate systematics. - Focuses on the phylogeny and evolutionary biology of fishes - Contains phylogenies of fishes at multiple taxonomic levels - Applies molecule-based phylogenies to broader questions of evolution - Includes methods for critique of analysis of molecular data

Among the fishes. a remarkably wide range ofbiological adaptations to diverse habitats has evolved. As weIl as living in the conventional habitats of lakes. ponds. rivers. rock pools and the open sea. fish have solved the problems of life in deserts. in the deep sea. in the cold Antarctic. and in warm waters of high alkalinity or of low oxygen. Along with these adaptations. we find the most impressive specializations of morphology. physiology and behaviour. For example we can marvel at the high-speed swimming of the marlins. sailfish and warm-blooded tunas. air breathing in catfish and lungfish. parental care in the mouth-brooding cichlids and viviparity in many sharks and toothcarps. Moreover. fish are of considerable importance of the survival of the human species in the form ofnutritious and delicious food ofnumerous kinds. Rational exploitation and management of our global stocks of fishes must rely upon a detailed and precise insight of their biology. The Chapman and Hall Fish and Fisheries Series aims to present timely volumes reviewing important aspects of fish biology. Most volumes will be of interest to research workers in biology. zoology. ecology and physiology. but an additional aim is for the books to be accessible to a wide spectrum of non specialist readers ranging from undergraduates and postgraduates to those with an interest in industrial and commercial aspects of fish and fisheries.

Neotropical ichthyology: an overview; Fossils and geological evidence; The stage for neotropical fish diversification: a history of tropical south american rivers; The temporal context for the diversification of neotropical fishes; Phylogeny of fossil characiformes and paleobiogeography of the Tremembe formation, Sao Paulo; Brazil; Maastrichtian to early late paleocene freshwater osteichthyes of Bolivia: additions and comments; Characiformes; Higher lever phylogenetic concepts within characiforms (Ostariophysi), a historical review; Relationships of the characidiinae and phylogeny of characiform fishes (Teleostei: ostariophysi); Phylogenetic study of the hemiodontidae (Ostariophysi: characiformes); Perspectives about the phylogeny and classification of the chacidae (Teleostei: Characiformes); Relationships of the tribes and genera of the glandulocaudinae (Ostariophysi: characiformes: characidae) with a description of a New Genus, Chrysobrycon; Monophyly of the Cheirodontinae, characters and major clades (Ostariophysi: characidae); Sperm ultrastructure in characid fishes (Teleostei: ostariophysi); The genus Creagrutus (Teleostei: Characiformes: Characidae): monophyly, relationships, and undetected diversity; A phylogenetic analysis of Roestes Gunther and Gilbertolus Eigenmann, with a hypothesis on the relationships of the Cynodontidae and Acestrorhynchidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes); Siluriformes; Phylogenetic relationships of neotropical siluriformes: historical overview and synthesis of hypotheses; Monophyly and interrelationships of the Centromochlinae (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae); Systematics, biogeography, and the fossil record of the Callichthyidae: a review of the available data; Phylogenetic relationships of the Loricariidae (Siluriformes) based on mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences; Conflict and resolution: impact of new taxa on phylogenetic studies of the neotropical cascudinhos (Siluroidei: Loricariidae); Gymnotiformes; The Gymnotiform "Eels" of tropical America: a history of classification and phylogeny of the South American electric Knifefishes (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Siluriphysi); Phylogenetic systematics of Gymnotiformes with diagnoses of 58 clades: a review of available data; The phylogenetic position of the South America Electric Fish genera Sternophygus and Archolaemus (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes) according to 12s and 16s mitochondrial DNA sequences; Perciformes; A phylogeny and classfication of the South American Cichlidae (Teleostei: Perciformes); Molecular phylogeny of neotropical cichlids: the relationships of Cichlasomines and heroines; Mitochondrial phylogenetics, biogeography, and evolution of parental care and mating systems in Gymnogeophagus (Perciformes: Cichlidae); Atherinomorpha; Phylogenetic systematics and historical biogeography of the neotropical silverside family Atheronopsidae (Teleostei: Atheriniformes); Phylogeny and classification of the Cyprinodontiformes (Euteleostei: Atherinomorpha): a reappraisal; Phylogeny and classification of the Anablepidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes); Cytogenetic markers; Cytogenetic markers in neotropical freshwater fishes.