A morphology-based phylogenetic analysis of Fasciolariidae (Gastropoda: Buccinoidea)

Abstract

Fasciolariids are buccinoid neogastropods and key predators in the tropics and subtropics, comprising more than 500 species in the subfamilies Fasciolariinae, Fusininae and Peristerniinae. Tulip shells, horse-conchs, spindles, etc., have been grouped into heterogeneous combinations of unrelated species, while several generic names have been used to group conchologically similar species. The latest molecular phylogenetic study conflicts with the current circumscription of many genera, and even more so, with the three currently recognized subfamilies. This work is the first morphological approach to the phylogeny of fasciolariids, using a parsimony analysis in TnT of 53 taxa based on 100 characters. This analysis reveals a monophyletic Fasciolariidae, with the genera Dolicholatirus and Teralatirus representing the most basal clade in the family, followed by three nodes that correspond to a fusinine grade, which includes the genus Pseudolatirus (Peristerniinae). A terminal clade groups the peristerniine genera Peristernia and Fusolatirus, fasciolariines and the remaining peristerniines. Although none of these clades correspond to currently accepted taxonomic groups, the latter two clades are corroborated in the most recent multilocus molecular phylogeny. This study supports the utility of morphological data in the recovery of groups, even in the molecular era.

Two new species of the genus Amiantofusus (Gastropoda: Fasciolariidae) from seamounts in the tropical western Pacific, with remarks on the taxonomy of A. candoris and A. sebalis

“…nov. In addition, Amiantofusus pacificus differs from the new species in having less major cusps (four instead of six to seven) on the lateral teeth (see Couto and Simone, 2019). In addition, our phylogenetic tree shows that Amiantofusus tchangsii sp.…”

“…For SEM studies, radulae were extracted from the buccal mass by gross dissection, cleaned using 10% NaOH for 1-2 h to remove the surrounding tissue, rinsed in distilled water, air-dried, coated with gold, and examined with a Hitachi S-3400N SEM with an accelerating voltage of 5 kV. For the identity and terminology of the radula, we followed Fraussen et al (2007) and Couto and Simone (2019).…”

“…Both the morphology and molecular phylogenetic analyses support the assignment of the two new species to the genus Amiantofusus Fraussen et al, 2007. Amiantofusus species are conchologically quite similar to Buccinidae but have a fasciolariid radula (Fraussen et al, 2007;Couto and Simone, 2019). The radula has a small, narrow, tricuspid central tooth with an elongated base and broad, slightly curved lateral teeth with several (usually four to seven) major cusps accompanied by a small knob or cusp at both ends.…”

“…Members of the genus Amiantofusus possess shells that are quite similar to those of the family Buccinidae but differ in having a particular protoconch morphology with striking semilunar axial riblets, fasciolariid-like radula, and a distinctive soft-part anatomy (Fraussen et al, 2007;Couto et al, 2016;Couto and Simone, 2019). The genus was originally proposed by Fraussen et al (2007) to accommodate a small group of deep-sea fasciolariid species.…”