Disentangling the skeleton-based fossil killifish records from Eurasia

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Bettina Reichenbacher, since 11/2024
• Subject Area: Geology
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 514821779

There is an extensive and well-preserved fossil record of killifishes (order Cyprinodontiformes) in Europe and Western Asia, however the taxonomic and systematic interpretation of this extraordinary data source is complex. Firstly, the majority of the existing fossil killifish records were described long time ago and the last review (in 2012) contains severe inconsistencies, thus making the taxonomic and systematic interpretation of previously reported fossils highly problematic. Secondly, recent molecular studies rejected the established definitions of some extant killifish families, which resulted in a restructuring of the Poeciliidae and Cyprinodontidae and the erection of the families Aphaniidae, Fluviphylacidae, Pantanodontidae and Procatopodidae. Among these four newly diagnosed families, the Aphaniidae poses another problem as there is considerable disagreement on the number of genera it contains (three vs. eight). A solid knowledge of the taxonomy and systematics of recent killifish is a prerequisite for the precise classification of their fossils. This project aims to rectify this situation by creating, for the first time, a comprehensive dataset for extant and fossil killifishes including morphological information (for fossils and extant species) and molecular data (for extant species). The new data set will be used for phylogenetic analyses in order to re-evaluate the taxonomic and systematic assignment of the fossils. Phylogenetic analyses will be based on morphological data alone, as well as on morphological + molecular data (total evidence approach). Beyond that, this new dataset will serve to generate the most reliably dated phylogeny for the Cyprinodontiformes that is currently available. The overall goal is to achieve a better understanding of the evolutionary history of fossil and extant killifishes and to shed new light on their origin, biogeographic history, character evolution and diversification.Due to my extensive literature database comprising all relevant publications on the Cyprinodontiformes, together with my methodical expertise, which is state-of-the-art and includes all procedures for the detailed investigation of morphological characters, and my writing skills, I am the expert for this complex topic and therefore very well able to carry out this project successfully.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Ehemalige Antragstellerin: Dr. Melanie Altner, until 10/2024