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Multigene phylogeny reveals two new isolated and relic earthworm genera (Oligochaeta: Lumbricidae)

2017; Oxford University Press; Volume: 182; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx031

1096-3642

Jorge Domínguez, Manuel Aira, Pablo G. Porto, Darío J. Diaz Cosin, Marcos Pérez‐Losada,

Invertebrate Taxonomy and Ecology

Phylogenetic analysis has revealed many potential new earthworm species and has led to changes in current taxonomic classifications. Here, we propose the addition of two new earthworm genera, Galiciandrilus gen. nov. and Compostelandrilus gen. nov., to the family Lumbricidae based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic analysis of nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial 16S rRNA, 12S rRNA, ND1, COII and tRNA gene regions (4680 bp). Galiciandrilus gen. nov. comprises the species originally described as Cernosvitovia bertae and Allolobophora morenoe (later renamed Postandrilus bertae and Aporrectodea morenoe, respectively). Compostelandrilus gen. nov. includes two new earthworm species, Compostelandrilus bercianus sp. nov. and Compostelandrilus menciae sp. nov., which are restricted to a small area of northwestern Spain. Divergence times (14.9–26.5 Mya) and branch lengths (0.7–1.45) in the species included in the Iberian clade are higher than those usually observed in most lumbricid monophyletic genera. The monophyly of these two phylogenetically distinct earthworm genera is not corroborated by any of the external or internal morphological synapomorphies commonly used in earthworm alpha taxonomy. This confirms the anatomical plasticity of the group and the need for extensive revision of the Lumbricidae taxonomy. Given the restricted geographical distribution of the earthworm species under study (< 50 km2) and their basal phylogenetic position in the Lumbricidae tree, future conservation efforts should be initiated to preserve this unique biological diversity.