Phylogenetic Relationships of the Genus Turcinoemacheilus in Iran using Osteological Characteristics

 This study was conducted to examine the phylogenetic relationship of the genus Turcinoemacheilus in Iran based on osteological characteristics. A total of 25 fish specimens of four species belonging to the genus Turcinoemacheilus from Tigris and Isfahan basins were considered as in-group and Cobitis linea as out-group. The skeletal elements were examined after clearing and staining. A total of 19 character-states were described that showed differences between the studied taxa. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using osteological characters with the maximum parsimony method. Based on the results, the most parsimonious tree with a length of 29, the consistency index of 1, and a retention index of 1 was obtained. Turcinoemacheilus hafezi and T. bahaii with 76% support were in a sister group and the two species of T. kosswigi and T. saadii with 97% support were in another clad. The presence of the lateral fontanel in T. hafezi, the overlap of the internal lateral-wall of autoplatinii with posterior lateral-wall of the ethmoid, symmetry of the posterior part of the autoplatinii and divergence of the hemal spin’s process in T. kosswigi, ratio of the ascending process to the horizontal process of the maxillary, and beginning of the first dorsal-fin petrigiophore to vertebra 17 in T. bahaii were distinguishing osteological characters of the studied species.