Morphospecies and molecular diversity of 'lace corals': the genus Reteporella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida) in the central North Atlantic Azores Archipelago.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As in most bryozoans, taxonomy and systematics of species in the genus Reteporella Busk, 1884 (family Phidoloporidae) has hitherto almost exclusively been based on morphological characters. From the central North Atlantic Azores Archipelago, nine Reteporella species have historically been reported, none of which have as yet been revised. Aiming to characterise the diversity and biogeographic distribution of Azorean Reteporella species, phylogenetic reconstructions were conducted on a dataset of 103 Azorean Reteporella specimens, based on the markers cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1, small and large ribosomal RNA subunits. Morphological identification was based on scanning electron microscopy and complemented the molecular inferences.

Results

Our results reveal two g

SUBMITTER: Baptista L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9635095 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature