Evidence for two morphologically cryptic species of Hysterolecitha Linton, 1910 (Trematoda: Lecithasteridae) infecting overlapping host ranges in Moreton Bay, Australia.

ABSTRACT: Integration of morphological and molecular approaches to species delineation has become an essential part of digenean trematode taxonomy, particularly when delimiting cryptic species. Here, we use an integrated approach to distinguish and describe two morphologically cryptic species of Hysterolecitha Linton, 1910 (Trematoda: Lecithasteridae) from fishes of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia. Morphological analyses of Hysterolecitha specimens from six fish species demonstrated a complete overlap in morphometric data with no reliable differences in their gross morphological characters that suggested the presence of more than one species. Distinctions in ITS2 rDNA and cox1 mtDNA sequence data for corresponding specimens suggested the presence of two forms. A principal component analysis on an

SUBMITTER: Duong B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10264270 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature