It's not what it looks like: molecular data fails to substantiate morphological differences in two sea hares (Mollusca, Heterobranchia, Aplysiidae) from southern Brazil

Autor(es)

Saad, Luiza de Oliveira ^[1] ; Cunha, Carlo Magenta ^[2] ; Delevati Colpo, Karine ^{[3, 4]} ; Valdes, Angel ^[5]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Estadual Paulista, UNESP, BR-11330900 Sao Vicente, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool MZSP, BR-04263000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Buenos Aires, CONICET, FCEyN, Dept Biodivers & Expt Biol, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[4] Univ Buenos Aires, Biol Reprod & Growth Crustaceans, Buenos Aires, DF - Argentina

^[5] Calif State Polytech Univ Pomona, Dept Biol Sci, Pomona, CA 91768 - USA

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: HELGOLAND MARINE RESEARCH; v. 68, n. 4, p. 523-530, DEC 2014.
• Citações Web of Science: 1

Resumo

Species of sea hares have been recognized traditionally based on morphological traits, mainly the radula, external coloration, and reproductive anatomy. However, recent studies have shown substantial color variation in some sea slug species. Molecular data have been successfully used to differentiate morphologically similar species of ``opisthobranchs'' and resolve questions on the taxonomic value of color. The objective of this paper is to use molecular data in an attempt to elucidate whether specimens of Aplysia brasiliana with distinct colorations and morphologies are actually the same species. To this end, DNA from 14 specimens of A. brasiliana was extracted, including five specimens identified as a distinct morphotype from typical A. brasiliana. Although the two morphotypes have consistent differences in their external morphology and radula, the molecular data confirmed that there are no significant genetic differences between them. This is another example of the need to re-evaluate taxonomic decisions based on morphology in light of molecular evidence. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 10/11253-9 - Análise filogenética de Aplysiomorpha (Mollusca, Opisthobranchia), com base em morfologia comparada, e revisão sistemática das espécies brasileiras
• Beneficiário: Carlo Magenta Cunha
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 11/01493-5 - Malacofauna em Manguezais no Estado de São Paulo
• Beneficiário: Luiza de Oliveira Saad
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Iniciação Científica
• Processo FAPESP: 13/01000-4 - Caracterização molecular de dois diferentes morfotipos de Aplysia brasiliana coletados na Baía de Santos, SP
• Beneficiário: Luiza de Oliveira Saad
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Iniciação Científica