Mitochondrial DNA sequence evidence supporting the recognition of a new North Atlantic Pseudostichopus species (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)
A new species of the synallactid sea cucumber genus Pseudostichopus is described, P. aemulatus sp. nov., based on genetic (DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I [COI] gene) and morphological characters. A comparative molecular study with two other species of the same genus (P....
| Published in: | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2004
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531540401046Xh https://researchportal.port.ac.uk/portal/en/publications/mitochondrial-dna-sequence-evidence-supporting-the-recognition-of-a-new-north-atlantic-pseudostichopus-species-echinodermata-holothuroidea(b08793cc-2011-436f-8101-0cfe3b735989).html |
| Summary: | A new species of the synallactid sea cucumber genus Pseudostichopus is described, P. aemulatus sp. nov., based on genetic (DNA sequences of the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome Oxidase I [COI] gene) and morphological characters. A comparative molecular study with two other species of the same genus (P. villosus and P. mollis) and from a di¡erent family (Isostichopus fuscus) was carried out in order to clarify its taxonomic identity. The nucleotide distance between P. aemulatus sp. nov. and P. villosus and P. mollis is su⁄cient to support distinct species status. The estimated di¡erence in the number of amino acids, coded for by a partially sequenced COI gene, within the species of the family Synallactidae ranged from 4 to 18. The phylogenetic analysis clearly supports separate species status of these sympatric morphotypes, as indicated by the morphological analysis. |
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