Larsen, K. (2001). Morphological and molecular investigation of polymorphism and cryptic species in tanaid crustaceans: implications for tanaid systematics and biodiversity estimates. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 131: 353- 379.

166400

Larsen, K.

2001

131: 353- 379

Publication

A combination of traditional taxonomic procedures and molecular techniques has provided new insight into the problems of cryptic species and sexual and ontogenetic polymorphism in the Tanaidacea. Using polymerase chain reaction and DNA markers, three cryptic species of Paratanais were identified. PCR primers were used to amplify the divergent internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of these species. Restriction digestion of the amplified rDNA generated species specific DNA banding. Male and five female stages of Paratanais maleficus sp. nov. and two other new species, P. malignus and P. perturbatius, are described. Morphological variation, both sexual and ontogenetic, was found in several generic characters of Paratanais and required the diagnosis to be modified. The identification of three undescribed cryptic species from a single microhabitat in a well studied, shallow water and easily accessible locality, demonstrate that the biodiversity of tanaid crustacean is significantly underestimated.

Australia

Tanaidacea

RIS (EndNote, Reference Manager, ProCite, RefWorks)
BibTex (BibDesk, LaTeX)

[Back to search]