A new phylogeny of the Cephalaspidea (Gastropoda: Heterobranchia) based on expanded taxon sampling and gene markers

• Published in: Molecular phylogenetics and evolution 2015-08, Vol.89, p.130-150
• Main Authors: Oskars, Trond R., Bouchet, Philippe, Malaquias, Manuel António E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bayes Theorem; Biodiversity; Bubble snails; Cephalaspids; Euthyneura; Gastropoda; Gastropoda - classification; Gastropoda - genetics; Genetic Markers - genetics; Likelihood Functions; Models, Genetic; Molecular systematics; Phylogeny; Reproducibility of Results; Taxonomy
• ISSN: 1055-7903; 1095-9513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2015.04.011

[Display omitted] •Phylogeny including complete coverage of traditional family diversity of cephalaspidean gastropods.•Monophyly of the Cephalaspidea confirmed.•Five families found non-monophyletic, suggesting the need for a profound systematic revision of the group.•A new classification of the Cephalaspidea including five new families and one new genus is proposed. The Cephalaspidea is a diverse marine clade of euthyneuran gastropods with many groups still known largely from shells or scant anatomical data. The definition of the group and the relationships between members has been hampered by the difficulty of establishing sound synapomorphies, but the advent of molecular phylogenetics is helping to change significantly this situation. Yet, because of limited taxon sampling and few genetic markers employed in previous studies, many questions about the sister relationships and monophyletic status of several families remained open. In this study 109 species of Cephalaspidea were included covering 100% of traditional family-level diversity (12 families) and 50% of all genera (33 genera). Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenetics analyses based on two mitochondrial (COI, 16S rRNA) and two nuclear gene markers (28S rRNA and Histone-3) were used to infer the relationships of Cephalaspidea. The monophyly of the Cephalaspidea was confirmed. The families Cylichnidae, Diaphanidae, Haminoeidae, Philinidae, and Retusidae were found non-monophyletic. This result suggests that the family level taxonomy of the Cephalaspidea warrants a profound revision and several new family and genus names are required to reflect the new phylogenetic hypothesis presented here. We propose a new classification of the Cephalaspidea including five new families (Alacuppidae, Colinatydidae, Colpodaspididae, Mnestiidae, Philinorbidae) and one new genus (Alacuppa). Two family names (Acteocinidae, Laonidae) and two genera (Laona, Philinorbis) are reinstated as valid. An additional lineage with family rank (Philinidae “Clade 4”) was unravelled, but no genus and species names are available to reflect the phylogeny and formal description will take place elsewhere.