Gambusia + Belonesox

[Clade 118]

Diagnosis. Gambusia and Belonesox share the following uniquely derived and unreversed features: (1) gonactinost 2, 3, and 4 fused into a column [73-1**]; and (2) lateral flanges on ventral portion of anal-fin radial 4 in adult males present and continuous, without dorsal cleft [75-1**].

Additionally, this clade can be diagnosed by the following not uniquely derived and/or reversed features: (1) posterior section of posterior remnant of infraorbital system opened into a groove [7-1]; (2) pelvic girdle of males very posterior, anterior border of basipterygium posterior to the posterior border of cleithrum [35-0]; (3) anterior tip of basipterygium in adult males approximately triangular and round [37-0]; (4) pleural ribs in adult males almost straight, slightly curving forward and not converging to the same point towards pelvic girdle [59-0]; (5) pleural ribs associated with haemal arches in males [60-1]; (6) absence of an anterior convex expansion of second gonactinost [70-0]; (7) complete fusion of second and third gonactinosts [72-1]; (8) distal portion of third and fourth gonactinosts completely fused [74-1]; (9) lateral process on base of fifth middle anal-fin radial in adult males minute [79-4]; (10) R5a, R5p, R4a, and R4p directed upwards [112-1]; (11) four to seven subdistal retrorse spines on R4p [116-2]; (12) hook on 5a contacting the segments of 4p [123-1]; and (13) less than nine caudal-fin rays in contact with the hypural plate [132-0].