标题:Liolophura species discrimination with geographical distribution patterns and their divergence and expansion history on the northwestern Pacific coast
摘要:The chiton
Liolophura japonica (Lischke 1873) is distributed in intertidal areas of the northwestern Pacific. Using
COI and
16S rRNA, we found three genetic lineages, suggesting separation into three different species. Population genetic analyses, the two distinct
COI barcoding gaps albeit one barcoding gap in the
16S rRNA, and phylogenetic relationships with a congeneric species supported this finding. We described
L.
koreana, sp. nov. over ca. 33°24′ N (JJ), and
L.
sinensis, sp. nov. around ca. 27°02′–28°00′ N (ZJ). We confirmed that these can be morphologically distinguished by lateral and dorsal black spots on the tegmentum and the shape of spicules on the perinotum. We also discuss species divergence during the Plio-Pleistocene, demographic expansions following the last interglacial age in the Pleistocene, and augmentation of
COI haplotype diversity during the Pleistocene. Our study sheds light on the potential for
COI in examining marine invertebrate species discrimination and distribution in the northwestern Pacific.