Abstract
The lakeweed chub Ischikauia steenackeri is a medium-sized, herbivorous fish and the sole extant member of the genus Ischikauia, which is endemic to Lake Biwa and the Yodo River drainage, Japan. In order to clarify its systematic position, the skeletal anatomy of I. steenackeri is described and its relationships with related genera are discussed. The present data suggest the monophyly of Ischikauia and seven cultrine genera (Culter, Chanodichthys, Megalobrama, Sinibrama, Hemiculter, Toxabramis, and Anabarilius) based on a unique character, the metapterygoid elongated dorsally. Additionally, our data suggest that Ischikauia is closely related to Culter, Chanodichthys, Megalobrama, and Sinibrama. This relationship is supported by three synapomorphies that are common to them: a narrow third infraorbital, dorsal extension of the third supraneural, and a large quadrate foramen.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to E Zhang (IHB) for helping collect the specimens and S. Kimura (FRLM) and T. Nakajima (LBM) for loaning the specimens. We thank Y. Kubo and T. Kitagawa (KUN) for their discussion and comments on an earlier draft of this manuscript. This study was funded in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research (20657019) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. All experiments comply with the current laws of Japan.
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Takeuchi, H., Hosoya, K. Osteology of Ischikauia steenackeri (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) with comments on its systematic position. Ichthyol Res 58, 10–18 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-010-0181-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-010-0181-3