Introduction Codfishes in the subfamily Gadinae are probably the most studied of all fishes owing to their great importanc tocJW erckj fisheries (Cohen et al. 1990). However, only two phylogenetic analyses of these fishes have been published. Dunn (1989) presented an analysis based on 28 morphologic lc harac99J of 11 genera (all gadine genera excra Drjagin, 1932), represented by 11spec ies. Carr et al. (1999) provided an analysis based oncJ)j]]T me b andcdJ] hrome oxidase I genes (401+495 bp) inc uding 14spec(] in 9 genera (all generaexc ept GuicJ ot, 1850 and Microme scrome Gill, 1863). Both studiescudi uded that more work is needed. There is general agreement that the 12 genera in Gadinae (sensu Svetovidov 1948) form a monophyletic group, representing the most derived subfamily of cW]k hes. This group has been raised to family rank by several authors (e.g. Cohen 1984; Dunn 1989; Markle 1989). The assumed monophyly of the group is based on several apomorphic cph achi states s