Molecular barcode and morphological analyses reveal the taxonomic and biogeographical status of the striped-legged hermit crab species Clibanarius sclopetarius (Herbst, 1796) and Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc, 1802) (Decapoda: Diogenidae)

Author(s)

Negri, Mariana ^[1] ; Pileggi, Leonardo G. ^[1] ; Mantelatto, Fernando L. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Bioecol & Crustacean Systemat, Postgrad Program Comparat Biol, Dept Biol, Fac Philosophy Sci & Letters Ribeirao P, BR-05508 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INVERTEBRATE SYSTEMATICS; v. 26, n. 5-6, p. 561-571, 2012.
• Web of Science Citations: 19

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the species Clibanarius sclopetarius (Herbst, 1796) and Clibanarius vittatus (Bosc, 1802), which have sympatric biogeographical distributions restricted to the western Atlantic Ocean, is based only on differences in the colour pattern of the walking legs of adults. Their morphological similarity led to the suggestion that they be synonymised. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we included species of Clibanarius Dana, 1892 in a molecular phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene and the COI barcode region. In addition, we combined the molecular results with morphological observations obtained from several samples of these two species. The genetic divergences of the 16S rDNA and COI sequences between C. sclopetarius and C. vittatus ranged from 4.5 to 5.9% and 9.4 to 11.9%, which did not justify their synonymisation. Differences in the telson morphology, chela ornamentation, and coloration of the eyestalks and antennal peduncle provided support for the separation of the two species. Another interesting result was a considerable genetic difference found between populations of C. vittatus from Brazil and the Gulf of Mexico, which may indicate the existence of two homonymous species. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/54931-0 - Improvement and management of biological specimen collections at the Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo
• Grantee: Carlos Alberto Garofalo
• Support type: Research Infrastructure Program - Biological specimen collections
• FAPESP's process: 12/06300-3 - Divesity and genetic structure of the allien swimming crab Charybdis hellerii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1876) as a tool to infer on its introduction in the American coast
• Grantee: Mariana Negri Pereira
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 10/50188-8 - Decapod crustaceans: multi-disciplinary characterization of the sea biodiversity of the State of São Paulo (taxonomy, spermiotaxonomy, molecular biology and population dynamics)
• Grantee: Fernando Luis Medina Mantelatto
• Support type: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants