title: Taxonomic position of Eunapius subterraneus (Porifera, Spongillidae) inferred from molecular data--a revised classification needed?
abstract: The freshwater sponge Eunapius subterraneus was described in 1984 on the basis of its morphology and unique ecological features. It inhabits caves in the Ogulin karst area as the only known stygobitic sponge, and an endangered karst species. We used three genetic markers with different evolutionary rates in phylogenetic analyses of E. subterraneus. All of the markers exclude this sponge from the genus Eunapius. Based on our results, we emphasize the need for revision of the taxonomic classification of E. subterraneus as well as the need for a thorough re-evaluation of freshwater sponge systematics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Ruder Bosković Institute, Bijenicka 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia. mharcet@irb.hr
authors.forename: Matija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harcet
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bilandzija
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bruvo-Madarić
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cetković
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005819:Genetic Markers; D010802:Phylogeny; D011161:Porifera / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D005819:Genetic Markers