Biochemical Systematics of the Notropis roseipinnis Complex (Cyprinidae: Subgenus Lythrurus)

The Notropis roseipinnis complex, subgenus Lythrurus, contains four taxa, N. roseipinnis, N. atrapiculus, N. b. bellus and N. b. alegnotus, all distributed in the southeastern United States. Genetic variability in populations of all taxa was examined by horizontal starch gel electrophoresis; N. umbratilis cyanocephalus was included as an outgroup. A total of 59 alleles were resolved for 21 loci. Eleven of the loci were essentially monomorphic. N. roseipinnis exhibited a high degree of variation for GPI-A and M-MDH-A. Lower Mississippi drainage populations are significantly different from other populations at M-MDH-A and AK-A. N. roseipinnis can be distinguished electrophoretically from other members of the complex. Phylogenetic analyses agreed closely with the relationships suggested by Snelson (1972), but allied N. b. alegnotus with N. atrapiculus rather than with N. b. bellus.