Phylogenomics of bonytongue fishes (Osteoglossomorpha) shed light on the craniofacial evolution and biogeography of the weakly electric clade (Mormyridae)

Bonytongues (Osteoglossomorpha) constitute an ancient clade of teleost fishes distributed in freshwater habitats throughout the world. The group includes well-known species such as arowanas, featherbacks, pirarucus, and the weakly electric fishes in the family Mormyridae. Their disjunct distribution, extreme morphologies, and electrosensory capabilities (Notopteridae and Mormyroidea) have attracted interest by many, yet a comprehensive phylogenetic framework for comparative analysis is missing. We provide a phylogenomic analysis of 179 species (out of 260), 28 out of 29 genera, and all six families of extant bonytongues and find that the interfamilial relationships support previous molecular phylogenies. However, we find pervasive misalignment between the phylogeny and mormyrid taxonomy. Based on a recent reassessment of the fossil record of this group, we inferred dates of divergence among trans-continental clades and the major groups. The estimated ages of divergence for the major cla...