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....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2004-10, Vol.84 (5), p.1077-1084
Main Authors: Solís-Marín, Francisco A., Billett, David S.M., Preston, Joanne, Rogers, Alex D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amino acids
Biological and medical sciences
Cytochrome
Echinodermata
Ethanol
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Holothuroidea
Invertebrates
Marine
Mitochondrial DNA
Morphology
Museums
Oceanography
Phylogenetics
Pseudostichopus
Pseudostichopus aemulatus
Pseudostichopus mollis
Pseudostichopus villosus
Research Article
Taxonomy
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Description
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 different 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 sufficient to support distinct species status. The estimated difference 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.
ISSN:0025-3154
1469-7769
DOI:10.1017/S002531540401046Xh