Phylogeny of the Neotropical cichlid fish tribe Cichlasomatini (Teleostei: Cichlidae) based on morphological and molecular data, with the description of a new genus

Phylogenetic relationships among cichlasomatine cichlids were studied using an extensive taxon sampling and both morphological and molecular data sets. A new genus, Andinoacara n. gen. with six species (A. pulcher-rivulatus group of previous authors) from trans-andean South America and NW cis-andean South America, is described based on results of phylogenetic and diagnosability analyses and tests of alternative topologies Our results demonstrate that cichlasomatine cichlid diversity is divided into five principal lineages composed of eleven genera and three suprageneric clades: the [(Bujurquina, Tahuantinsuyoa), (Andinoacara) (BAT) clade; the (Cleithracara, (Nannacara, Ivanacara)] clade (NIC) plus Laetacara and 'Aequidens' hoehnei; and the (Aequidens, Cichlasoma) clade, where Aequidens is paraphyletic to Cichlasoma. Two former Aequidens species are additionally transferred into Krobia (K. potaroensis, K. paloemeuensis). 'Aequidens' hoehnei probably represents a unique evolutionary lineage and would thus qualify for a separate generic status. Molecular data are yet not available for this species and its generic status requires further study. Relationships between the three suprageneric clades and between Acaronia and Krobia could not be convincingly resolved with our data set of two mitochondrial (16S and cyt b) and two nuclear (S7 and RAG1) molecular markers and 96 morphological characters.