Molecular Data Confirm the Species Status of Neoechinorhynchus personatus and N. yamagutii (Acanthocephala, Neoechinorhynchidae) from the Atlantic and Pacific Grey Mullets (Teleostei, Mugilidae)

Abstract

EN : Molecular Data Confi rm the Species Status of Neoechinorhynchus personatus and N. yamagutii (Acanthocephala, Neoechinorhynchidae) from the Atlantic and Pacifi c Grey Mullets (Teleostei, Mugilidae). Sarabeev, V., Tkach, Ie., Sueiro, R. A., Leiro, J. — Neoechinorhynchus is known to be the most diverse acanthocephalan taxon with worldwide distribution; its species are characterized by uniformity of anatomical organization. Th e taxonomic status of Neoechinorhynchus agilis s. l. from grey mullets was recently reviewed that resulted in description of two new species, Neoechinorhynchus ( Hebesoma ) personatus and Neoechinorhynchus ( Hebesoma ) yamagutii . In the current study,18S rRNA partial gene sequences were obtained to molecularly characterize N . ( N .) agilis , N . ( H .) personatus and N . ( H .) yamagutii from grey mullets, Chelon labrosus and Mugil cephalus , in the North-East Atlantic, the Japan, Azov and Mediterranean Seas. Th e universal (F-566 and R-1200) and specifi c eukaryotic set primers were used to amplify specimens from each species of Neoechinorhynchus . It has been found that three species can be clearly recognized using universal primers, which allow to obtain sequences of 590 to 664 bp in length. Th e genetic divergences estimated between three species sequenced here were relatively high, at ranged between 2.08 and 6.57 %. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that the studied species of Neoechinorhynchus from grey mullet fi sh share common ancestor, despite their diff erent geographic location, and are closely related. Th e terminal position of N . ( N .) agilis and N . ( H .) personatus on the evolution tree and the low genetic divergence found between them suggests the recent emergence of this group and that the colonization of the North-East Atlantic and the Mediterranean regions could represent a single event. Our phylogenetic analysis, which included several species of the subgenera Neoechinorhynchus and Hebesoma , showed that the latter is a polyphyletic taxon.