Phylogeny of deepwater snappers (Genus Etelis) reveals a cryptic species pair in the Indo-Pacific and Pleistocene invasion of the Atlantic

Authors

Kimberly R. Andrews, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, USA
Ashley J. Williams, Oceanic Fisheries Programme, The Pacific Community, Noumea
Iria Fernandez-Silva, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, USA
Stephen J. Newman, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
Joshua M. Copus, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, USA
Corey Wakefield, Department of Fisheries, Western AustraliaFollow
John E. Randall, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, USA
Brian W. Bowen, University of Hawaii, Kaneohe, USA

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2016

Journal Title

Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution

ISSN

Print: 1055-7903 Electronic: 1095-9513

Keywords

Introns, Lutjanidae, Marine fishes, Mitochondrial, DNA, PhylogeographySpeciation, Submesophotic snappers

Disciplines

Aquaculture and Fisheries | Genetics | Marine Biology | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Oceanography

Abstract

Evolutionary genetic patterns in shallow coastal fishes are documented with dozens of studies, but corresponding surveys of deepwater fishes (>200 m) are scarce. Here we investigate the evolutionary history of deepwater snappers (genus Etelis), comprised of three recognized Indo-Pacific species and one Atlantic congener, by constructing a phylogeny of the genus with two mtDNA loci and two nuclear introns. Further, we apply range-wide Indo-Pacific sampling to test for the presence and distribution of a putative cryptic species pair within E. carbunculus using morphological analyses and mtDNA cytochrome b sequences from 14 locations across the species range (N = 1696). These analyses indicate that E. carbunculus is comprised of two distinct, non-interbreeding lineages separated by deep divergence (d = 0.081 in cytochrome b). Although these species are morphologically similar, we identified qualitative differences in coloration of the upper-caudal fin tip and the shape of the opercular spine, as well as significant differences in adult body length, body depth, and head length. These two species have overlapping Indo-Pacific distributions, but one species is more widespread across the Indo-Pacific, whereas the other species is documented in the Indian Ocean and Western Central Pacific. The dated Etelis phylogeny places the cryptic species divergence in the Pliocene, indicating that the biogeographic barrier between the Indian and Pacific Oceans played a role in speciation. Based on historic taxonomy and nomenclature, the species more widespread in the Pacific Ocean is E. carbunculus, and the other species is previously undescribed (referred to here as E. sp.). The Atlantic congener E. oculatus has only recently (∼0.5 Ma) diverged from E. coruscans in the Indo-Pacific, indicating colonization via southern Africa. The pattern of divergence at the Indo-Pacific barrier, and Pleistocene colonization from the Indian Ocean into the Atlantic, is concordant with patterns observed in shallow coastal fishes, indicating similar drivers of evolutionary processes.

Recommended Citation

Kimberly R. Andrews, Ashley J. Williams, Iria Fernandez-Silva, Stephen J. Newman, Joshua M. Copus, Corey B. Wakefield, John E. Randall, Brian W. Bowen, Phylogeny of deepwater snappers (Genus Etelis) reveals a cryptic species pair in the Indo-Pacific and Pleistocene invasion of the Atlantic, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Volume 100, 2016, Pages 361-371, ISSN 1055-7903, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.004.