INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE SPANISH MACKERELS (PISCES: SCOMBRIDAE: SCOMBEROMORUS) AND THEIR COPEPOD PARASITES

Abstract- A cladistic analysis of the eighteen species of Spanish mackerels (Scomberomorus) was conducted using the double-lined mackerel (Grammatorcynus) as the outgroup. Based on fifty-eight osteological and morphological characters, six species groups are recognized. Comparisons of the cladogram for the regalis species group were made with a cladogram of the nine species of parasitic copepods that infest the six members of the regalis group. Incongruences were analyzed. The parasite tree was then "forced" onto the host cladogram to determine which evolutionary events of the parasites could be explained by evolutionary events of the hosts. Hypotheses of coevolution are supported in some cases, hypotheses of dispersal are proposed in others.