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Integrative taxonomy of the freshwater worm R hyacodrilus falciformis s.l. ( C litellata: N aididae), with the description of a new species
Author(s) -
Martinsson Svante,
Achurra Ainara,
Svensson Marcus,
Erséus Christer
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
zoologica scripta
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 64
eISSN - 1463-6409
pISSN - 0300-3256
DOI - 10.1111/zsc.12032
Subject(s) - biology , taxonomy (biology) , chaeta , taxon , zoology , cytochrome c oxidase , evolutionary biology , ecology , genetics , mitochondrion
The genetic and morphological variation within R hyacodrilus falciformis B retscher, 1901 ( C litellata: N aididae) in E urope was explored using an integrative approach, with three unlinked genetic markers [the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I ( COI ), the nuclear histone 3 ( H 3) and internal transcribed spacer region ( ITS )] combined with morphology, to investigate whether this taxon constitutes a single or several species. Using A utomatic B arcode G ap D iscovery on the COI data set, the specimens were divided into seven clusters, used as hypothetical species that were further tested with the other data sources. Single‐gene trees were estimated for all three markers, using coalescence analysis and they were in many parts incongruent with each other. Only one of the clusters was supported by all trees; it was also morphologically differentiated from the other clusters by the shape of its modified penial chaetae. This group consists of two specimens from the C rotot C ave in south‐eastern France, and morphologically they fit a previously described but invalid variety, ‘ pigueti ’, which is here described as a new species, R hyacodrilus pigueti A churra & Martinsson sp. n. The study highlights the fact that a single data source (e.g. COI barcodes) seldom provides a sufficient basis for taxonomic decisions such as species delimitation.