Phylogenetic reconstruction of the evolutionary relationships among gurnard species of the Adriatic sea.

A phylogenetic analysis of seven gurnard species inhabiting the Adriatic Sea was performed by using the mitochondrial 16S marker. Three different methods were employed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships: all supported the monophyly of the genus. Two clades were identified: one clade included Trigla and Lepidotrigla species, the other one included Eutrigla gurnardus, Aspitrigla cuculus and Chelidonichthys lucerna. The Bayesian analysis provided the best estimate of the phylogenetic relationships of the included taxa.