Los patelogastrópodos intermareales de Chile y Perú

Abstract

In this study we present a classification system reflecting the phylogenetic relationships for the intertidal patellogastropods of Chile and Perú. We infer phylogenetic relationships between limpets species using DNA sequences from the 16S region of the mitochondrial genome. We include a comparative limpet study of: shell structure, color and morphological patterns of the shell, radular teeth and anatomy. Additionally, we provide information about the distribution and ecology for members of this group within the studied area. The results show a Chilean-Peruvian Lottiidae fauna consisting of at least nine species, which are grouped into a single monophyletic clade Scurria (S. variabilis, S. zebrina, S. viridula, S. plana, S. scurra, S. araucana, S. ceciliana and a non identificated species), and a "problematic taxon" preliminarily assigned to the genus Lottia ('Lottia' orbignyi). The group of species is present in the intertidal rocky shores between 5° S and 54° S, from the upper to the lower intertidal fringes, ranging from exposed to protected areas. The systematic outcome of this study suggests the synonymization of S. parasitica to S. variabilis, and of S. ceciliana to S. boehmita. According to our field results, the species S. variabilis shows at least three ecophenotypes: (1) on rocky substrates along the full geographic range, (2) on the shells of the key-hole limpets: Fissurella crassa and F. limbata mainly in central and south of Chile, and (3) on the chiton plates of Enoplochiton niger in the north of Chile and south of Perú. S. ceciliana is a species in which morphology and color patterns are highly variable. In general, this variability indicates that the Chilean-Peruvian limpet species are among the most complex and diverse limpet fauna in the world. This, may reflects the taxonomic confusion which has beset this fauna.