Mitogenomic divergence between three pairs of putative geminate fishes from Panama

AbstractWe sequenced the complete mitochondrial genomes of three pairs of congeneric peripheral fishes distributed on either side of the Isthmus of Panamain order to test their status as geminatespecies pairs. Our phylogenetic analysis did not support a sister relationship between Gobiomorusdormitor and G. maculatus and therefore they cannot be considered geminates. The average genetic distanceof protein-coding genes between Sicydiumaltum and S. salvini was more than two times larger than between Atlantic and Pacific Awaous banana, suggesting different timings for their divergence across the Isthmus of Panama.