Multilocus phylogeny and phylogeographical patterns suggest the need for a comprehensive revision of the systematics of Stelliferinae Sasaki, 1989 (Sciaenidae, Acanthuriformes).

We evaluate the phylogenetic and phylogeographic patterns within Stelliferinae, the third most diversified subfamily in Sciaenidae, using a multilocus approach based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers, comprising 13 loci. Our results support the monophyly of Stelliferinae and the non-monophyly of Stellifer, whose species were grouped into three distinct clades, two of which were closely related to a clade encompassing Bairdiella, Elattarchus, Odontoscion, and Corvula. The monophyly of Odontoscion was rejected, since Odontoscion xanthops was found to be closer to Corvula macrops than to Odontoscion dentex, suggesting that both genera should be synonymized. In addition, our genetic inferences indicate that Stellifer menezesi and Stellifer gomezi represent a single species. Furthermore, O. dentex was grouped into two clades, one occurring in the Caribbean and another one on the Brazilian coast, which diverged ~ 3.3 million years ago (Ma), evidencing cryptic speciation likely driven by the Amazon River plume outflow. Our results suggest that Stelliferinae originated in the eastern Pacific around 16.7 Ma (13.2–20.3 Ma; Early Miocene) and subsequently colonized the western Atlantic during the Miocene and Pliocene, via the Central American Seaway, through multiple independent dispersal events. We also propose that the gradual rise of the Isthmus of Panama, which promoted changes in the oceanographic conditions in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, played a key role in the diversification of these taxa. In conclusion, we suggest that a thorough taxonomic review of Stelliferinae is required.