A Study of the Evolutionary Relationships of Fundulus Topminnows (Teleostei: Fundulidae)

A hypothesis of the evolutionary relationships of thirty-fourspecies of Fundulus and their closer relatives is presented.The study is restricted to morphological characters which couldbe determined to be primitive or derived using the methods ofphylogenetic systematics. Following Parenti, a family Fundulidaeis recognized. It is composed of four genera of North Americankillifishes. (Cyprinodontidae as usually constitutedis polyphyletic.)No convincing characters demonstrate that Fundulus is a naturalgroup (a monophyletic group). However, all species of Fundulusshare four derived characters with Lucania. The sister group(closest genealogical relative) of Fundulus plus Lucania isa group composed of the genera Adinia and Leptolucania. Fourmonophyletic groups of Fundulus can be recognized based on sharedderived characters: (1) subgenus Fundulus (seven species excludingthree species placed in Fontinus); (2) subgenus Fonlinus (sixspecies); (3) subgenus Xensima (five species); and (4) subgenusZygonectes (thirteen species). Three species, F. (Plancterus)zebrinus, F. lima, and F. parvipinnis are of uncertain affinitieswithin the Lucania-Fundulus clade