Molecular phylogenetics of gadidae and related gadiformesbased on mitochondrial DNA sequences

Mitochondrial DNA sequences of selected regions of the SSU rRNA, LSU rRNA, and cytochrome b genes were analyzed for 10gadid species, representing 8 genera within Gadidae, and 10 species representing 5 additional gadiform families. Phylogenetic analyses recognize Gadiculus as the most basal gadid genus, and that Trisopterus and Micromesistius constitute a relatively basal clade. Lotidae is identified as the family mostclosely related to Gadidae. Estimation of divergence timesindicates that the most ancient Gadidae split between Gadiculusand the remaining gadid genera occurred about 20 million years ago. The clade including the most recent species (Gadus,Boreogadus, Merlangius, Melanogrammus, and Pollachius) diverged from the Trisopterus / Micromesistius clade approximately12million years ago. Authors: Bakke I, Johansen S Corresponding address: Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø,Norway