Phylogenetic relationships among families of the order Anomopoda (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Cladocera)

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationships among families of the Order Anomopoda (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Cladocera) were investigated through a cladistic analysis including 93 characters and 37 terminal taxa (2 as outgroups). The strict consensus tree supported the monophyly of the Anomopoda and its families, and indicated the existence of two main clades: (Moinidae+Daphniidae) and (Dumontidae (Ilyocryptidae+Bosminidae+Radopoda)). The later clade was supported by trunk limb characters, probably related to life associated with the bottom or with macrophytes (lifestyle lost in Bosminidae, but still visible in some of its trunk limbs). Within the Radopoda, the Eurycercoidea was monophyletic, but the monophyly of the Macrothricoidea was not supported.