Fast-evolving mitochondrial DNA in Ceriantharia: a reflection of hexacorallia paraphyly?
The low evolutionary rate of mitochondrial genes in Anthozoa has challenged their utility for phylogenetic and systematic purposes, especially for DNA barcoding. However, the evolutionary rate of Ceriantharia, one of the most enigmatic "orders" within Anthozoa, has never been specifically examined. In this study, the divergence of mitochondrial DNA of Ceriantharia was compared to members of other Anthozoa and Medusozoa groups. In addition, nuclear markers were used to check the relative phylogenetic position of Ceriantharia in relation to other Cnidaria members. The results demonstrated a pattern of divergence of mitochondrial DNA completely different from those estimated for other anthozoans, and phylogenetic analyses indicate that Ceriantharia is not included within hexacorallians in most performed analyses. Thus, we propose that the Ceriantharia should be addressed as a separate clade.
Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Laboratório de Biologia Aquática - LABIA, Faculdade de Ciências e Letras de Assis, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Assis, São Paulo, Brazil ; Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sérgio N
SN
Stampar
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Genética e Biologia Evolutiva, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Maximiliano M
MM
Maronna
Universidade de São Paulo, Centro de Biologia Marinha, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil.
Marcelo V
MV
Kitahara
Molecular Invertebrate Systematics and Ecology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan.
James D
JD
Reimer
Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
André C
AC
Morandini
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012615:Sea Anemones / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
D017931:DNA Primers; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal