Gross brain morphology of Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard 1824) (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Heptapteridae)

Abstract

The brain gross morphology of Rhamdia quelen is described and compared with seven species of six genera of Heptapteridae. Interspecific variation in shape, size, and position of brain subdivisions was observed in all examined species. The posterior position of the hypophysis on the hypothalamus and presence of a lateral subdivision on the lobus facialis are shared by all examined heptapterids. Rhamdia quelen and Pimelodella gracilis, currently considered closely related within the family Heptapteridae, exhibit the anterior and posterior area of the telencephalon with equivalent widths, and the lateral line lobe reaching the anterior area of the lobus vagi. Members of the so called Nemuroglanis sub-clade (Cetopsorhamdia iheringi, Heptapterus mustelinus, Imparfinis mirini, and Phenacorhamdia tenebrosa) share the lobus vagi proportional smaller than the lobus facialis; the lateral line lobe reaching the half length of the lobus facialis; the tectum mesencephali in contact with the telencephalon, and thinner anterior area of the telencephalon. The results reveal several features that are phylogenetically informative among the heptapterids examined, and corroborate previous hypotheses based on other non-neural anatomical characters.