title: DNA barcoding reveals Mexican diversity within the freshwater leech genus Helobdella (Annelida: Glossiphoniidae).
abstract: We investigated the genetic distances and taxonomic status among species of Helobdella, a genus of non-blood-feeding leeches, based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences. Sampling included 20 specimens representing nine nominal species collected in 11 states in Mexico as well as previously published sequences of different species of Helobdella from several places. A neighbor-joining tree, as well as identification of diagnostic nucleotides, was used to suggest the presence of seven species of Helobdella in Mexico including potentially two undescribed forms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, The Graduate Center, The City University of New York, New York, NY, USA. aoceguera@amnh.org
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oceguera-Figueroa
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: León-Règagnon
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Siddall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058893:DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007865:Leeches / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D008800:Mexico; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV