RT Journal Article
T1 Compilation of morphological and molecular data, a necessity for taxonomy: the case of Hormogaster abbatissae sp. n. (Annelida, Clitellata, Hormogastridae)
A1 Novo Rodríguez, Marta
A1 Fernández, Rosa
A1 Fernández Marchán, Daniel
A1 Gutiérrez López, Mónica
A1 Díaz Cosín, Darío
AB Conflict among data sources can be frequent in evolutionary biology, especially in cases where one character set poses limitations to resolution. Earthworm taxonomy, for example, remains a challenge because of the limited number of morphological characters taxonomically valuable. An explanation to this may be morphological convergence due to adaptation to a homogeneous habitat, resulting in high degrees of homoplasy. This sometimes impedes clear morphological diagnosis of species. Combination of morphology with molecular techniques has recently aided taxonomy in many groups difficult to delimit morphologically. Here we apply an integrative approach by combining morphological and molecular data, including also some ecological features, to describe a new earthworm species in the family Hormogastridae, Hormogaster abbatissae sp. n., collected in Sant Joan de les Abadesses (Girona, Spain). Its anatomical and morphological characters are discussed in relation to the most similar Hormogastridae species, which are not the closest species in a phylogenetic analysis of molecular data. Species delimitation using the GMYC method and genetic divergences with the closest species are also considered. The information supplied by the morphological and molecular sources is contradictory, and thus we discuss issues with species delimitation in other similar situations. Decisions should be based on a profound knowledge of the morphology of the studied group but results from molecular analyses should also be considered.
PB Pensoft Publishers
SN 1313-2989
YR 2012
FD 2012-11-15
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/112979
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/112979
LA eng
NO Novo M, Fernández R, Fernández Marchán D, Gutiérrez M, Diaz Cosin D. Compilation of morphological and molecular data, a necessity for taxonomy: The case of Hormogaster abbatissae sp. n. (Annelida, Clitellata, Hormogastridae). ZK 2012;242:1–17. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.242.3996.
NO Funding:M.N. was supported by a Grant from the Fundación Caja Madrid and a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Spanish Government. R.F. was supported by a research contract from Spanish Government and a Postdoctoral Fellowship from Fundación Ramón Areces. This research was funded by project CGL2010-16032 from the Spanish Government.
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (España)
NO Fundación Caja Madrid
NO Fundación Ramón Areces
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025