New insights into the Syllis prolifera species complex from the eastern Mediterranean Sea
Reports of cases of cryptic and pseudocryptic speciation have increased in the last decade among marine invertebrates thanks to the use of integrative taxonomy that combines all available data sources to correctly establish species boundaries, now routinely incorporated into classical taxonomical studies. This approach has enhanced our understanding of the real biodiversity of a given area, which has fundamental implications for conservation and management of marine ecosystems. Among polychaete annelids, considered one of the most ubiquitous and abundant groups in our oceans, there are numerous documented cases of cryptic and pseudocryptic speciation, mainly in those highly diverse families as Syllidae Grube, 1850. One of the most recent cases of species complex has been reported in Syllis prolifera Krohn, 1852 – traditionally considered a widespread, cosmopolitan species – and now recognised as a pseudocryptic complex in the western Mediterranean Sea. However, its broader distribution suggests that additional pseudocryptic lineages may exist in other regions of the Mediterranean basin. In this study, newly collected specimens from the Greek islands of Crete and Mykonos are combined with all previously published data on the S. prolifera complex, aiming to assess the existence of additional putative Mediterranean species. Combining morphological, biogeographical, and molecular data (COI, 16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, and 28S rRNA markers) the presence of at least three more novel lineages for the eastern Mediterranean Sea is revealed. However, unlike previous studies, no clear diagnostic morphological characters were found for each lineage, suggesting that the complex includes both pseudocryptic and cryptic potential new species. Our results further reinforce the view that species diversity within the family Syllidae remains underestimated and highlight the necessity of integrative studies to accurately assess marine invertebrate biodiversity.
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