Mitochondrial DNA sequence evidence supporting the recognition of a new North Atlantic Pseudostichopus species (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea)

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Authors: Solis-Marin, Francisco A., Billett, David S. M., Preston, Joanne, Rogers, Alex D.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: /dk/atira/pure/core/subjects/biology; Biology; North Atlantic
• 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

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.