A phylogeny of Southern Hemisphere whelks (Gastropoda: Buccinulidae) and concordance with the fossil record

• Published in: Molecular phylogenetics and evolution Vol. 114; pp. 367 - 381
• Main Authors: Vaux, Felix, Hills, Simon F.K., Marshall, Bruce A., Trewick, Steven A., Morgan-Richards, Mary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Animals; Buccinidae; Buccinulum; DNA - chemistry; DNA - isolation & purification; DNA - metabolism; Electron Transport Complex IV - classification; Electron Transport Complex IV - genetics; Evolution, Molecular; Fossils; Genetic Variation; Kelletia; Marine snail; New Zealand; Penion; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - classification; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S - classification; RNA, Ribosomal, 28S - genetics; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Snails - classification; Snails - genetics; Systematics; Buccinidae; Penion; Systematics; Buccinulum; Kelletia; Marine snail
• ISSN: 1055-7903; 1095-9513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2017.06.018

[Display omitted] •Buccinulid whelks from the Southern Hemisphere (and NZ) are not monophyletic.•Long distance dispersal seems common on an evolutionary time-scale for some Buccinidae snails.•Genetically estimated divergence dates closely concord with the fossil record.•The common ancestor of Penion and Kelletia probably originated from the Southern Hemisphere.•Penion benthicolus is misclassified and belongs in Antarctoneptunea. Under current marine snail taxonomy, the majority of whelks from the Southern Hemisphere (Buccinulidae) are hypothesised to represent a monophyletic clade that has evolved independently from Northern Hemisphere taxa (Buccinidae). Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial genomic and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data indicates that Southern Hemisphere taxa are not monophyletic, and results suggest that dispersal across the equator has occurred in both directions. New Zealand buccinulid whelks, noted for their high endemic diversity, are also found to not be monophyletic. Using independent fossil calibrations, estimated genetic divergence dates show remarkable concordance with the fossil record of the Penion and Kelletia. The divergence dates and the geographic distribution of the genera through time implies that some benthic marine snails are capable of dispersal over long distances, despite varied developmental strategies. Phylogenetic results also indicate that one species, P. benthicolus belongs in Antarctoneptunea.