title: Phylogenetic analysis of Opisthadena (Digenea:Hemiuridae).
abstract: Systematic study of the closely related hemiurid genera Mitrostoma, Neopisthadena and Opisthadena revealed that Opisthadena cortesi is a junior synonym of Opisthadena dimidia and Opisthadena fujianensis and Opisthadena marina are species inquirendae. Phylogenetic analysis of the 7 recognized species, based on 21 transformation series derived from comparative morphologic characters, produced a single tree with a consistency index of 0.735. The five species of the genus Opisthadena constitute a monophyletic clade and Neopisthadena habei is their sister group. Mitrostoma nototheniae is the sister group of the other 6 members of the clade. Geographic distribution suggests an ancient circum-Pacific distribution of the group. The association between kyphosids and this group of hemiurids appeared with the ancestor of Neopisthadena and Opisthadena.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Helmintología, U.N.A.M., México, D.F., México.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: León-Règagnon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez-Ponce de León
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes; D010802:Phylogeny; D014200:Trematoda / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification*