Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks
The majority of meiofaunal organisms have limited abilities to disperse over long distances, yet they may still have disjointed distributions. Many studies have found evidence of long distance meiofauna dispersal due to passive transport by wind and/or animals that serve as vectors for these widespr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Consortium of European Natural History Museums
2021-04-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Taxonomy |
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| Online Access: | https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/1319 |
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| author | Letícia Magpali Danilo R.P. Machado Thiago Q. Araújo André R.S. Garraffoni |
| author_facet | Letícia Magpali Danilo R.P. Machado Thiago Q. Araújo André R.S. Garraffoni |
| author_sort | Letícia Magpali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The majority of meiofaunal organisms have limited abilities to disperse over long distances, yet they may still have disjointed distributions. Many studies have found evidence of long distance meiofauna dispersal due to passive transport by wind and/or animals that serve as vectors for these widespread distributions. Our research on an archipelago in northeast Brazil uncovered a species of freshwater gastrotrich that at first sight appeared to be a ‘cosmopolitanʼ species that had surpassed the connectivity constraint to occupy an island more than 350 km from the mainland. However, through an integrative approach using molecular sequences and morphology, we have uncovered evidence of a pseudo-cryptic species in this freshwater gastrotrich. Polymerurus insularis sp. nov. closely resembles its congeners and can easily be mistaken for similar species such as P. nodicaudus, a cosmopolitan gastrotrich. Unique to P. insularis sp. nov. are (1) a cuticular armature composed of simple spined scales with polygonal shape (Type 1 scales), (2) a single, spineless dorsal scale with a triangular shape located terminally next to the furca base (Type 2 scale), (3) a spineless zone composed by a patch lacking cuticular ornamentation and flat, rounded or polygonal scales without spines (Type 4 scales) (4) particular sets of terminal spined or keeled scales located both dorsally and ventrally around the furca base (Types 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 scales). The presence of this species on a volcanic island is discussed, as is the relationship between pseudocryptism and dispersal in gastrotrichs and other meiofauna. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:40:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed5bd2fefe8144ac8dadcc9d22d4ed6b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2118-9773 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:40:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | Consortium of European Natural History Museums |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Taxonomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed5bd2fefe8144ac8dadcc9d22d4ed6b2022-12-21T23:20:02ZengConsortium of European Natural History MuseumsEuropean Journal of Taxonomy2118-97732021-04-01746110.5852/ejt.2021.746.1319Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocksLetícia Magpali0Danilo R.P. Machado1Thiago Q. Araújo2André R.S. Garraffoni3Laboratory of Evolutionary Meiofaunal Organisms, Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato, 255, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, BrazilLaboratory of Evolutionary Meiofaunal Organisms, Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato, 255, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, BrazilLaboratory of Evolutionary Meiofaunal Organisms, Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato, 255, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, BrazilLaboratory of Evolutionary Meiofaunal Organisms, Department of Animal Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Monteiro Lobato, 255, CEP 13083-862, Campinas, SP, BrazilThe majority of meiofaunal organisms have limited abilities to disperse over long distances, yet they may still have disjointed distributions. Many studies have found evidence of long distance meiofauna dispersal due to passive transport by wind and/or animals that serve as vectors for these widespread distributions. Our research on an archipelago in northeast Brazil uncovered a species of freshwater gastrotrich that at first sight appeared to be a ‘cosmopolitanʼ species that had surpassed the connectivity constraint to occupy an island more than 350 km from the mainland. However, through an integrative approach using molecular sequences and morphology, we have uncovered evidence of a pseudo-cryptic species in this freshwater gastrotrich. Polymerurus insularis sp. nov. closely resembles its congeners and can easily be mistaken for similar species such as P. nodicaudus, a cosmopolitan gastrotrich. Unique to P. insularis sp. nov. are (1) a cuticular armature composed of simple spined scales with polygonal shape (Type 1 scales), (2) a single, spineless dorsal scale with a triangular shape located terminally next to the furca base (Type 2 scale), (3) a spineless zone composed by a patch lacking cuticular ornamentation and flat, rounded or polygonal scales without spines (Type 4 scales) (4) particular sets of terminal spined or keeled scales located both dorsally and ventrally around the furca base (Types 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 scales). The presence of this species on a volcanic island is discussed, as is the relationship between pseudocryptism and dispersal in gastrotrichs and other meiofauna.https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/1319dispersionmeiofauna paradoxubiquitycosmopolitanismintegrative taxonomy |
| spellingShingle | Letícia Magpali Danilo R.P. Machado Thiago Q. Araújo André R.S. Garraffoni Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks European Journal of Taxonomy dispersion meiofauna paradox ubiquity cosmopolitanism integrative taxonomy |
| title | Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks |
| title_full | Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks |
| title_fullStr | Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks |
| title_short | Long distance dispersal and pseudo-cryptic species in Gastrotricha: first description of a new species (Chaetonotida, Chaetonotidae, Polymerurus) from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks |
| title_sort | long distance dispersal and pseudo cryptic species in gastrotricha first description of a new species chaetonotida chaetonotidae polymerurus from an oceanic island with volcanic rocks |
| topic | dispersion meiofauna paradox ubiquity cosmopolitanism integrative taxonomy |
| url | https://europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu/index.php/ejt/article/view/1319 |
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