Validating Livanow: Molecular Data Agree That Leeches, Branchiobdellidans, and Acanthobdella peledina Form a Monophyletic Group of Oligochaetes

Authors: Siddall M.E.¹; Apakupakul K.²; Burreson E.M.²; Coates K.A.³; Erséus C.⁴; Gelder S.R.⁵; Källersjö M.⁴; Trapido-Rosenthal H.³

Source: Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Volume 21, Number 3, December 2001 , pp. 346-351(6)

Publisher: Academic Press

Abstract:

To investigate the phylogenetic relationships of leeches, branchiobdellidans, and acanthobdellidans, whole nuclear 18S rDNA and over 650 bp of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I were acquired from 101 annelids, including 36 leeches, 18 branchiobdellidans, Acanthobdella peledina, as well as 28 oligochaetes and combined with homologous data for 17 polychaete outgroup taxa. Parsimony analysis of the combined aligned dataset supported monophyly of leeches, branchiobdellidans, and acanthobdellidans in 100% of jackknife replicates. Monophyly of the oligochaete order Lumbriculida with Acanthobdellida, Branchiobdellida, and Hirudinea was supported in 84% of jackknife replicates. These results provide support for the hypotheses that leeches and branchiobdellidans are sister groups, that acanthobdellidans are sister to them, and that together with the family Lumbriculidae they all constitute a clade within Oligochaeta. Results support synonymy of the classes Clitellata and the more commonly used Oligochaeta. Leeches branchiobdellidans, and acanthobdellidans should be regarded as orders equal to their closest relatives, the order Lumbriculida. ©2001 Elsevier Science.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, 10024 2: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia, 23062 3: Bermuda Biological Station for Research Inc., St George's GE 01, Bermuda 4: Swedish Museum of Natural History, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden 5: University of Maine at Presque Isle, Presque Isle, Maine, 04769

Publication date: 2001-12-01

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• By this author: Siddall M.E. ;  Apakupakul K. ;  Burreson E.M. ;  Coates K.A. ;  Erséus C. ;  Gelder S.R. ;  Källersjö M. ;  Trapido-Rosenthal H.

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