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CRYPTIC SPECIATION IN THE ANADENOBOLUS EXCISUS MILLIPEDE SPECIES COMPLEX ON THE ISLAND OF JAMAICA
Author(s) -
Bond J. E.,
Sierwald P.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2002.tb01426.x
Subject(s) - biology , millipede , species complex , sympatry , evolutionary biology , mitochondrial dna , genetic algorithm , allopatric speciation , genetic divergence , zoology , phylogenetic tree , genetic diversity , sympatric speciation , genetics , gene , population , demography , sociology
Anadenobolus excisus is a large species of millipede endemic to the Caribbean Island of Jamaica. Initial detailed morphological studies showed little or no discrete variation across this species' distribution in somatic or, in particular, genitalic morphology. However, a molecular survey based on ∼1000 base pairs of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) 16S rRNA gene that examines 242 individuals sampled from 54 localities reveals three highly divergent mtDNA lineages. A lack of discrete morphological differentiation suggests that genetic and morphological divergence may be decoupled, a pattern inconsistent with a number of evolutionary models. In contrast to minimal morphological divergence, size variation among mtDNA lineages suggests that character displacement has occurred and that these lineages are cohesive in sympatry. We conclude that A excisus is actually a complex of three cryptic species and that morphological approaches to delineating millipede species may sometimes underestimate evolutionary diversity.