Phylogenetic relationships of nine mullet species (Mugilidae) in the Mediterranean Sea.

Phylogenetic relationships among four genera and nine species (Mugil cephalus,Mugil soiuy,Liza ramada,Liza aurata,Liza abu,Liza saliens,Liza carinata,Chelon labrosus,Oedalechilus labeo) of the Mediterranean mullets (Mugilidae) were investigated by means of allozyme electrophoresis using a seven-enzyme system (CK*,GAPDH*,G3PDH*,IDHP*,ME*,MDH*,PGM*) comprising eleven putative loci. The highest genetic divergence was 1.299, detected betweenM. cephalusandL. aurataand the lowest (0.280) was found betweenL. carinataandL. saliens. The amount of genetic divergence between the generaChelonandOedalechilusdid not appear to be high (0.285). In a UPGMA tree, all nine species were grouped in two main branchings. In the first branch,C. labrosusandO. labeoclustered as closest taxa and were sister group toL. ramada. The other fourLizaspecies produced two sub-branching in this group;L. carinatabranched together withL. saliens, andL. auratabranched together withL. abu. In the second branch the two species of the genus Mugil,M. cephalusandM. soiuy, clustered together and were clearly isolated from the other three genera. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]