High Levels of Diversity in Anopheles Subgenus Kerteszia Revealed by Species Delimitation Analyses.

ABSTRACT: The Anopheles subgenus Kerteszia is a poorly understood group of mosquitoes that includes several species of medical importance. Although there are currently twelve recognized species in the subgenus, previous studies have shown that this is likely to be an underestimate of species diversity. Here, we undertake a baseline study of species delimitation using the barcode region of the mtDNA COI gene to explore species diversity among a geographically and taxonomically diverse range of Kerteszia specimens. Beginning with 10 of 12 morphologically identified Kerteszia species spanning eight countries, species delimitation analyses indicated a high degree of cryptic diversity. Overall, our analyses found support for at least 28 species clusters within the subge

SUBMITTER: Bourke BP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9956091 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature