Cladistic analysis of the morphological characters of Pseudocharopinus Kabata, 1964 and keys to the species of Pseudocharopinus and Charopinus Krøyer, 1863 based on the morphology of adult females

Abstract

Kabata separated species of Pseudocharopinus Kabata, 1964 and Charopinus Krøyer, 1863 in 1964 based mainly on four characteristics. Currently Pseudocharopinus has 11 species while Charopinus consists of three species considered valid. Pseudocharopinus malleus (Rudolphi in Nordmann, 1832) and Charopinus dubius T. Scott, 1900 were collected and studied from hosts off South Africa. Additional to previous reports from South African waters, P. malleus is reported from Torpedo sinuspersici Olfers and T. fuscomaculata Peters while C. dubius is reported from Leucoraja wallacei (Hulley) and Rajella dissimilis (Hulley), all new host records. In an attempt to estimate the evolutionary relationships among Pseudocharopinus spp. a cladistic analysis was performed by means of parsimony using described and illustrated features of the adult females. Due to the mostly unresolved 50% majority rule tree, a key for the identification of the adult females of Pseudocharopinus spp. is compiled. Additionally, a key for the identification of adult females of Charopinus spp. is provided.