Focus on the details: morphological evidence supports new cryptic land flatworm (Platyhelminthes) species revealed with molecules

Author(s)

Alvarez-Presas, Marta ^{[1, 2]} ; Amaral, Silvana V. ^{[3, 4]} ; Carbayo, Fernando ^{[5, 6]} ; Leal-Zanchet, Ana M. ^{[3, 4]} ; Riutort, Marta ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Barcelona, Dept Genet, E-08028 Barcelona - Spain

^[2] Univ Barcelona, Inst Recerca Biodiversitat IRBio, E-08028 Barcelona - Spain

^[3] Univ Vale Rio dos Sinos UNISINOS, Inst Pesquisas Planarias, BR-93022000 Sao Leopoldo, RS - Brazil

^[4] Univ Vale Rio dos Sinos UNISINOS, Programa Posgrad Biol, BR-93022000 Sao Leopoldo, RS - Brazil

^[5] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Ecol & Evolucao EACH USP, BR-03828000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Programa Posgrad Zool IB USP, BR-03828000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ORGANISMS DIVERSITY & EVOLUTION; v. 15, n. 2, p. 379-403, JUN 2015.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

We found numerous dull brown land planarians of the subfamily Geoplaninae within native rainforests and in nearby man-disturbed habitats in Southeastern and South Brazil. Their external and internal morphology are similar to those of Obama ladislavii (Von Graff, 1899), with the exception of the luminous green dorsum of this species, from which a brownish-green variation is also known. Since morphological features commonly used to delimit geoplaninid species failed to distinguish them, we used coalescent and Bayesian-based molecular methods (GMYC, BPP). These methods indicated that we were actually dealing with three species, the greenish O. ladislavii, and two brownish, cryptic species. A meticulous morphological study of the specimens, including type material of O. ladislavii, allowed us to ascertain diagnostic features for each of the species, for which we also propose a molecular diagnosis. This integrative taxonomic study demonstrates the utility of molecular tools to weigh minor morphological features and thus to reveal otherwise cryptic species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/13661-8 - Taxonomic revision of the land planarians of Geoplana (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)
• Grantee: Fernando Jesús Carbayo Baz
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants