JIMENEZ, Lizandra; Adelphi University: Preliminary Phylogeny of the Tilefishes Based Upon Their Cytochrome b and 16S Gene Sequences

Tilefishes are found worldwide. Tilefishes are presently thought by some to be monophyletic (i.e. belong to one family, Branchiostegidae, comprised of two subfamilies, Malacanthinae and Branchiosteginae). Another alternative theory is that the tilefishes consist of two separate phyletic lines, Branchiostegidae and Malacanthidae, each warranting family distinction. There are a total of forty-two nominal species of tilefishes. The analysis of two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (cyto. b) and 16S, from representative species of each genus, Branchiostegus, Caulolatilus, Lopholatilus, Hoplolatilus, and Malacanthus, has been performed. As the group has not been examined molecularly, custom primers were used for the cyto. b gene amplification. The 16S gene has been has been isolated and sequenced each of the representative species of tilefishes and outgroups examined. The cyto. b gene has been isolated and sequenced in a number of the tilefishes and outgroups. A preliminary phylogenetic tree has been constructed utilizing PAUP.