MONOPHYLY OF THE CATFISH FAMILY SILURIDAE (TELEOSTEI, SILURIFORMES), WITH A CRITIQUE OF PREVIOUS HYPOTHESES OF THE FAMILYS RELATIONSHIPS

Monophyly of the Eurasian catfish family Siluridae is established according to five synapomorphies unique to the family: (1) palatine reduced to a small nodule; (2) lateral ethmoid and sphenotic contact by narrow extensions lateral to the frontal; (3) ossified transscapular ligament anteroposteriorly compressed; (4) distal radials of dorsal‐fin pterygiophores absent; (5) articulations of anal‐fin rays with pterygiophores posterodorsally shifted. Previous hypotheses of silurid non‐monophyly or a close relationship of the Siluridae to the Malapteruridae, Plotosidae or Amblycipitidae are shown to be poorly supported by available evidence. Silurids share with other subgroups of the Siluroidea character states that are derived within the Siluroidea; these are described in an appendix. Additional character state evidence is needed before a hypothesis of sister‐group relationshipi between the Siluridae and another siluroid subgroup can be proposed. Copyright © 1991, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved