Biology subjects

Moles, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Moles, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Systematic revision of the speciose sea slug genus Doto (Heterobranchia: Nudibranchia) - from the Mediterranean to South America

The genus Doto Oken, 1815 is, taxonomically, one of the most complex genera of nudibranchs due to the cryptic nature of its species, their small body size, and the homogeneity among their internal and external features. Here, an extensive molecular analysis of Mediterranean, Northeastern Atlantic, and South American specimens sheds light on the species-level taxonomy of the group. Our multilocus analyses include 171 specimens, 59 newly sequenced, corresponding to 20 species. Ten species are included in a molecular phylogeny for the first time, two being new species. Here, we provided detailed morphological and ecological descriptions of three Atlantic species, 11 Mediterranean, and one from the Pacific, complemented by live photographs evidencing their chromatic variation. The phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses suggest that coloration and external morphology often seem unreliable to differentiate among species. Molecular evidence corroborates and expands the geographical distribution of Doto species, some of which have never been included in molecular studies. The Mediterranean species currently recognized as D. coronata (Gmelin, 1791) and D. dunnei Lemche, 1976 correspond to D. millbayana Lemche, 1976. Consequently, we suggest the junior synonymy with D. dunnei syn. nov. Nevertheless, we found evidence for a restricted distribution of D. coronata in the western Mediterranean, coexisting in sympatry with D. cavernicola sp. nov. An additional new species from the Chilean Patagonia is also described as D. vrenifossorum sp. nov. Considering the present phylogenetic scenario, there is a highlighted need for further new morphological and genetic evidence, expanding the number of taxa and species to further unravel the taxonomy of Doto. This article is registered in ZooBank under https://zoobank.org/References/99a6148d-a93c-4d2d-947e-26a85329a57f

evolutionary biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Orange is the new white: taxonomic revision of Antarctic Tritonia species (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia)

Among nudibranch molluscs, the family Tritoniidae gathers taxa with unclear phylogenetic position, such as some species of the genus Tritonia Cuvier, 1798. Currently, 35 valid species belong to this genus and only three of them are found in the Southern Ocean, namely T. challengeriana Bergh, 1884, T. dantarti Ballesteros & Avila, 2006, and T. vorax (Odhner, 1926). In this study, we shed light on the long-term discussed systematics and taxonomy of Antarctic Tritonia species using morpho-anatomical and molecular techniques. Samples from the Weddell Sea and Bouvet Island were dissected and prepared for scanning electron microscopy. The three molecular markers COI, 16S, and H3 were sequenced and analysed through maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. The phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation tests clearly distinguished two species, T. challengeriana and T. dantarti, being widely-spread in the Southern Ocean, and endemic to Bouvet Island, respectively. Coloration seemed to be an unreliable character to differentiate among species since molecular data revealed both species can either have orange or white colour-morphotypes. This variability could be explained by pigment sequestration from the soft coral species they feed on. Morphological analyses reveal differences between Antarctic and Magellanic specimens of T. challengeriana, thus, we suggest the resurrection of T. antarctica Martens & Pfeffer, 1886 to encompass exclusively the Antarctic species. To progress further, additional molecular data from Magellanic specimens are required to definitely resolve their taxonomy and systematics.

zoology↗

bioRxiv2020

On the presence of elusive sea slugs and snails in the western Mediterranean (Mollusca: Gastropoda): new records

Citizen science provides us with much information about charismatic taxa such as the opisthobranchs, thus contributing enormously to enlarging the geographic distribution of species. This study collects new records of elusive sea slugs and snails in the Western Mediterranean coast (especially in the Catalan coast and the French Mediterranean coast) and contributes to new ecological information regarding phenology, diet, and behaviour. Out of the 36 species reported here, 20 correspond to new records in the Catalan coast (NE Spain), three are new records of pelagic pteropods for the Spanish coast, and 10 other species are new records for the French Mediterranean coast. All records have been registered at the online database of the NGO named Catalan Opisthobranch Research Group (GROC). This study highlights the importance of sampling at night and, especially, in shallow, often-understudied waters, which usually gather high species diversity. We believe the high-quality pictures and related species information will serve future researchers and divers find and recognize these species in the Mediterranean basin.

zoology↗