Description of a novel <i>Ligia</i> species from Nihoa, a remote island in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

ABSTRACT: Isopods in the genus Ligia have been shown to harbor deeply divergent genetic lineages that have, in some instances, been recognized as cryptic species. For instance, the use of molecular taxonomic approaches to characterize coastal Ligia from the Hawaiian Islands led to the redescription of Ligia hawaiensis, the sole endemic coastal species previously recognized in the region, and to the description of seven new species endemic to the region. These species appear to be highly restricted to rift zones within single islands, single islands, or previously connected islands, suggesting these species evolved in allopatry. These findings, coupled with the poor dispersal capabilities exhibited by Ligia isopods and the geology of the Hawaiian Islands, suggest that addi

SUBMITTER: Santamaria CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12103841 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature