01906nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010200041210006900143260001600212520136600228100002301594700002201617700002001639700002201659856007901681 2017 eng d00aThe genome and adult somatic transcriptome of the mormyrid electric fish Paramormyrops kingsleyae0 agenome and adult somatic transcriptome of the mormyrid electric  cDec-12-20173 a

Several studies have begun to elucidate the genetic and developmental processes underlying major vertebrate traits. Few of these traits have evolved repeatedly in vertebrates, preventing the analysis of molecular mechanisms underlying these traits comparatively. Electric organs have evolved multiple times among vertebrates, presenting a unique opportunity to understand the degree of constraint and repeatability of the evolutionary processes underlying novel vertebrate traits. As there is now a completed genome sequence representing south american electric eels, we were motivated to obtain genomic sequence from a linage that independently evolved electric organs to facilitate future comparative analyses of the evolution and development of electric organs. We report here the sequencing and de-novo assembly of the genome of the mormyrid Paramormyrops kingsleyae using short-read sequencing. In addition, we have completed a somatic transcriptome from 11 tissues to construct a gene expression atlas of predicted genes from this assembly, enabling us to identify candidate housekeeping genes as well as genes differentially expressed in the major somatic tissues of the mormyrid electric fish. We anticipate that this resource will greatly facilitate comparative studies on the evolution and development of electric organs and electroreceptors.

1 aGallant, Jason, R.1 aLosilla, Mauricio1 aTomlinson, Chad1 aWarren, Wesley, C uhttp://academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-article/doi/10.1093/gbe/evx265/473178302109nas a2200121 4500008004100000245013200041210006900173260001600242520163600258100002101894700002901915856004301944 2017 eng d00aNew insights into the molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of mormyrids (Osteoglossiformes, Actinopterygii) in northern East Africa0 aNew insights into the molecular phylogeny and taxonomy of mormyr cFeb-09-20193 a

Based on morphological data and analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and nuclear (S7 intron 1) DNA sequences, the phylogenetic relationships of all Pollimyrus species known from the Omo-Turkana enclosed basin and Nile system below the Murchison Falls were solved. A mormyrid “Pollimyrus” petherici is distantly related to all other studied Pollimyrus species and clusters together with Cyphomyrus species forming with the later a monophyletic group. Moreover, the West African (but not the Congo River) populations of Cyphomyrus psittacus, the type species of the genus, seem to be conspecific to C. petherici. That is, the range of the genus Cyphomyrus is extended toward the Nile and Omo-Turkana basins. This genus belongs to the large clade widely distributed in sub-Saharian Africa and characterized by the presence of a chin appendage. Significance of this character for mormyrid phylogeny is discussed. Two distinct lineages of Pollimyrus occurring sympatrically in the White Nile tributaries and previously reported as the light and dark forms of Pollimyrus isidori together with five other congeneric species studied form a monophyletic group. The light form apparently represents P. isidori distributed in the Nile system downstream of the Murchison Falls and West Africa; the dark-colored form (designated as Pollimyrus “D”) represents a distinct phylogenetic lineage inhabiting both the Omo-Turkana and the White Nile basin. Morphological and ecological data suggest that this form may be conspecific to East African Pollimyrus nigricans or most probably represents a new species.

1 aLevin, Boris, A.1 aGolubtsov, Alexander, S. uhttp://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/jzs.1218602342nas a2200145 4500008004100000022001400041245022900055210006900284260001600353520167800369100001902047700002302066700002202089856008502111 2017 eng d a0024-408200aRediscovery and description of Paramormyrops sphekodes (Sauvage, 1879) and a new cryptic Paramormyrops (Mormyridae: Osteoglossiformes) from the Ogooué River of Gabon using morphometrics, DNA sequencing and electrophysiology0 aRediscovery and description of Paramormyrops sphekodes Sauvage 1 cMay-05-20173 a

Species of the African electric fish in the genus Paramormyrops Taverne, Thys van den Audenaerde & Heymer, 1977 constitute a recently recognized species flock with an impressive diversity of electric signals, but only modest morphological differentiation. For more than a century, confusion has surrounded the identity of Paramormyrops sphekodes (Sauvage, 1879), the earliest described species in this genus. Here we compare the morphometrics of type material to new specimens collected at the type locality on the Ogooué River of Gabon from which we additionally study DNA sequences and electric organ discharges (EODs). Based on our findings, we revise the diagnosis and description of P. sphekodes and also identify and describe a new species of Paramormyrops that is large, common and widespread in the Ogooué River basin, but cryptic and easily confounded with P. sphekodes. We designate as lectotype of P. sphekodes a specimen formerly regarded, in error, as the holotype and a second specimen originally collected with the lectotype as paralectotype. We conclude that only nine additional specimens can be identified with confidence as P. sphekodes: four from the type locality and five from a second site 45 km away. Instead of being widespread as previously thought, P. sphekodes may be restricted to a small region of the upper Ogooué River basin. Additionally, we present a revised diagnosis for the genus Paramormyrops Taverne et al., 1977, and key to species from Lower Guinea. This study illustrates the value of vouchered EOD recordings and of revisiting type localities, and lays a foundation for additional systematic work on this group.

1 aRich, Madeline1 aSullivan, John, P.1 aHopkins, Carl, D. uhttps://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlw00403057nas a2200313 4500008004100000022001300041245015100054210006900205260001600274520202800290653002802318653002002346653002802366653001202394653001402406100002202420700001702442700002702459700001502486700001802501700002302519700002102542700002602563700002402589700002302613700002002636700002102656856006602677 2017 eng d a0928425700aIntragenus (Campylomormyrus) and intergenus hybrids in mormyrid fish: physiological and histological investigations of the electric organ ontogeny0 aIntragenus Campylomormyrus and intergenus hybrids in mormyrid fi cJan-01-20173 a

African weakly electric mormyrid fish show a high diversity of their electric organ discharge (EOD) both across and within genera. Thanks to a recently developed technique of artificial reproduction in mormyrid fish, we were able to perform hybridizations between different genera and within one genus (Campylomormyrus). The hybrids of intergenus hybridizations exhibited different degrees of reduced survival related to the phylogenetic distance of the parent species: hybrids of the crosses between C. rhynchophorus and its sister genus Gnathonemus survived and developed normally. Hybrids between C. rhynchophorus and a Mormyrus species (a more basal clade compared to Campylomormyrus s) survived up to 42 days and developed many malformations, e.g., at the level of the unpaired fins. Hybrids between C. numenius and Hippopotamyrus pictus (a derived clade, only distantly related to Campylomormyrus) only survived for two days during embryological development. Seven different hybrid combinations among five Campylomormyrus species (C. tamandua, C. compressirostris, C. tshokwe, C. rhynchophorus, C. numenius) were performed. The aim of the hybridizations was to combine species with (1) either caudal or rostral position of the main stalk innervating the electrocytes in the electric organ and (2) short, median or long duration of their EOD. The hybrids, though they are still juveniles, show very interesting features concerning electrocyte geometry as well as EOD form and duration: the caudal position of the stalk is prevailing over the rostral position, and the penetration of the stalk is dominant over the non-penetrating feature (in the Campylomormyrus hybrids); in the hybrid between C. rhynchophorus and Gnathonemus petersii it is the opposite. When crossing species with long and short EODs, it is always the long duration EOD that is expressed in the hybrids. The F1-Hybrids of the cross C. tamandua x C. compressirostris are fertile: viable F2-fish could be obtained with artificial reproduction

10aArtificial reproduction10aCampylomormyrus10aElectric organ ontogeny10aHybrids10amormyrids1 aKirschbaum, Frank1 aNguyen, Linh1 aBaumgartner, Stephanie1 aChi, Linda1 aWolfart, Rene1 aElarbani, Khouloud1 aEppenstein, Hari1 aKorniienko, Yevheniia1 aGuido-Böhm, Lilian1 aMamonekene, Victor1 aVater, Marianne1 aTiedemann, Ralph uhttp://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0928425717300037