Taxonomic re-evaluation of the Taiwanese montane earthworm Amynthas wulinensis Tsai, Shen & Tsai, 2001 (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae): Polytypic species or species complex?
Resource
Organisms Diversity & Evolution 7 (3): 231-240
Journal
Organisms Diversity & Evolution
Journal Volume
7
Journal Issue
3
Pages
231-240
Date Issued
2007
Date
2007
Author(s)
Abstract
Body size and colouration are two characters commonly used in the taxonomy of many animal taxa. However, they are seldom used by earthworm taxonomists because they are subject to environmental influences and tend to vary intraspecifically. In the present study, DNA sequences of the mitochondrial COI gene are used to evaluate whether specimens of the megascolecid earthworm Amynthas wulinensis Tsai, Shen & Tsai, 2001 that differ in body size and/or colouration belong to different genetic lineages. Phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons indicate that A. wulinensis in the previous broad sense is a species complex composed of three species differing in body size, colouration, and genital markings. Consequently, two new species, Amynthas lini and Amynthas meishanensis, are described. Taxonomic affinities of the A. wulinensis species complex are discussed, as is the feasibility of using body size and colouration in earthworm taxonomy. © 2007 Gesellschaft für Biologische Systematik.
Subjects
A. lini; A. meishanensis; Amynthas wulinensis; Megascolecidae; New species; Phylogeny
SDGs
Other Subjects
body size; color morph; earthworm; genetic analysis; mitochondrial DNA; morphology; new species; phylogenetics; phylogeny; species complex; taxonomy; Amynthas; Amynthas lini; Amynthas wulinensis; Animalia; Annelida; Megascolecidae; Oligochaeta (Metazoa)
Type
journal article
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