skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Phylogeny of the sea hares in the aplysia clade based on mitochondrial DNA sequence data

Journal Article · · Bulletin of Marine Science
OSTI ID:841054

Sea hare species within the Aplysia clade are distributed worldwide. Their phylogenetic and biogeographic relationships are, however, still poorly known. New molecular evidence is presented from a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit 1 gene (cox1) that improves our understanding of the phylogeny of the group. Based on these data a preliminary discussion of the present distribution of sea hares in a biogeographic context is put forward. Our findings are consistent with only some aspects of the current taxonomy and nomenclatural changes are proposed. The first, is the use of a rank free classification for the different Aplysia clades and subclades as opposed to previously used genus and subgenus affiliations. The second, is the suggestion that Aplysia brasiliana (Rang, 1828) is a junior synonym of Aplysia fasciata (Poiret, 1789). The third, is the elimination of Neaplysia since its only member is confirmed to be part of the large Varria clade.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Director, Office of Science. Office of Biological and Environmental Research; National Science Foundation (US)
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
841054
Report Number(s):
LBNL-56004; R&D Project: Y00011; TRN: US200513%%279
Journal Information:
Bulletin of Marine Science, Vol. 76, Issue 3; Other Information: Submitted to Bulletin of Marine Science: Volume 76, No.3; Journal Publication Date: 05/2005; PBD: 20 Feb 2004
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English