Drawing by Hopkins (1986) based on phylogeny derived from osteology by Taverne (1972)
MORMYRIDAE: a family of freshwater fishes endemic to Africa with about 200 species in 17 genera. All species have enlarged cerebellum, electroreceptors, electric organ in caudal peduncle, dorsal anal, and pelvic fins, inner ear gas bladder and many specialized characters associated with electroreception.
| Click on the diagram to see outlines of representatives of the known
genera of mormyrids. Drawing by Hopkins (1986) based on phylogeny derived from osteology by Taverne (1972) |
|
Two subfamilies within the Mormyridae: Petrocephalinae, Mormyrinae
Petrocephalinae: one genus, Petrocephalus with about 20
species.
Mormyrinae: 16 genera with about 180 species: lack basisphenoid.
Genera that retain the lateral ethmoid bone: Mormyrus,
Hippopotamyrus, Ivindomyrus, Pollimyrus,
Paramormyrops
Genera that lack lateral ethmoiod: Brienomyrus,
Boulengeromyrus, Stomatorhinus, Gnathonemus,
Campylomormyrus, Myomyrus, Isichthys, Mormyrops
Gymarchidae (one species, Gymnarchus niloticus)
Osteoglossomorpha - (bony tongues: Arawana, Arapaima, Heterotis, African Butterfly fish, mooneye, moryriform electric fish etc.)
Teleostei - bony fishes
Actinopterygii - ray finned fishes
Gnathostomata - jawed vertebrates
Vertebrata - animals with backbones
References on Mormyrid Phylogeny:
Alves-Gomes,
J. and Hopkins, C.D. Molecular insights into the phylogeny of mormyriform
fishes and the evolution of their electric organs. Br. Brain and Evolution.
Taverne, L. (1969). Étude Ostéologique des genres Boulengeromyrus Taverne et Géry, Genyomyrus Boulenger, Petrocephalus Marcusen (Pisces Mormyriformes). Musee Royal de l'Afrique Centrale Annales Series IN-8 - Tervuren, Belg. 174, 1-85.
Taverne, L. (1971). Le complexe de la chambre trigémino-faciale des Téléostéens et le cas des Poissons Mormyriformes. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 84, 301-311.
Taverne, L. (1971). Note sur la ystématique des poissons Mormyriformes. Le problème des genres Gnathonemus Gill, Hippopotamyrus Pappenheim, Cyphomyrus Myers et les nouveaux genres Pollimyrus et Brienomyrus. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 84, 99-110.
Taverne, L. (1971). Ostéologie des genres Marcusenius Gill, Hippopotamyrus Pappenheim, Cyphomyrus Myers, Pollimyrus Taverne et Brienomyrus Taverne (Pisces, Mormyriformes). Annals Mus. r. Afr. cent. 188, 1-143.
Taverne, L. (1972). Ostéologie des genres Mormyrus Linné, Mormyrops Müller, Hyperopisus Gill, Isichthys Gill, Myomyrus Boulenger, Stomatorhinus Boulenger et Gymnarchus Cuvier. Considérations générales sur la systématique des poissons d l'ordre des mormyriformes. Musée Roy. de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences Zoologique, Tervuren, Belgium 200, 1-194.
Taverne, L. and Géry, J. (1975). Un nouveau genre de Mormyridae du Gabon: Ivindomyrus opdenboschi gen. nov., sp. nov. Rev. Zool. Afr. 89, 555-563.
Taverne, L., Thys van den Audenaerde, D. F. E. and Heymer, A. (1977). Paramormyrops gabonensis nov. gen., nov. sp. du nord du Gabon (Pisces Mormyridae). Rev. Zool. Afr. 91, 634-640.
Taverne, L., Thys van den Audenaerde, D. F. E., Heymer, A. and Géry, J. (1977). Brienomyrus longicaudatus et Brienomyrus curvifrons, deux espèces nouvelles du nord du Gabon (Pisces, Mormyridae). Rev. Zool. Afr. 91, 200-208.
Van der Bank, F. H. and Kramer, B. (1996). Phylogenetic relationships between eight African species of mormyriform fish (teleostei, Osteichthyes): Resolution of a cryptic species, and reinstatement of Cyphomyrus Myers, 1960. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 24, 275-290.
