Phylogenetic relationships of the elopomorph fish †Paraelops cearensis Silva Santos revisited: Evidence from new specimens

The phylogenetic relationships of †Paraelops cearensis, an elopomorph fish from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil, are reviewed based on new complete and informative specimens. A cladistic analysis was conducted based on a modified data matrix with 27 taxa and 74 characters for reassessment of elopomorph relationships. It produced 12 equally parsimonious trees (L = 180 steps; CI = 0.45; RI = 0.67), in which the strict consensus was applied. As a result, Elopomorpha appears as a clade supported by a single synapomorphy (posterior opening of mandibular sensory canal lying medially or posterior on mandible). Albuloidei is diagnosed by the presence of a metapterygoid cup/fenestra. †Paraelops is the basal taxon of the Elopoidei clade, which also includes Elops, †Ichthyemidion, and Megalops. This clade is supported by two synapomorphies: presence of elongate jaws with numerous villiform teeth and first ossified pleural rib occurring on fourth or more posterior centrum.