Interrelationships of Scophthalmid fishes (Pleuronectiformes : Scophthalmidae)

A cladistic analysis of the eight species included in the Scophthalmidae was performed using 25 morphological features, mostly osteological. The analysis resulted in a single cladogram (exhaustive search, 34 steps, consistency index = 0.735, retention index = 0.864). The monophyly of the Scophthalmidae is supported by 4 synapomorphies. Two apomorphic features confirm the genus Scophthalmus as monophyletic; within this genus the brill (S. rhombus) is more closely related to the windowpane (S. aquosus) than to the turbot (S. maximus). The genus Lepidorhombus is the sister group of a Phrynorhombus+Zeugopterus clade; within this clade, R regius is closely related to Z punctatus. Phrynorhombus regius is referred to the genus Zeugopterus. Analysis of the fossil record suggests that scophthalmids first appeared in the Oligocene of Europe (ca. 35 mya).