Schizomavella grandiporosa and schizomavella sarniensis: Two cryptic species

Abstract

The type specimen of Schizomavella grandiporosa Canu and Bassler, 1925, has been located in the MNHN, Paris, and reveals that this species is closely similar to Schizomavella sarniensis Hayward and Thorpe, 1995. All available material of both species has been studied, including SEM-photographies. Morphometric analysis has been performed using n-MDS and tested with ANOSIM. Results confirm the separation of the two species which are, however, morphologically very similar. The geographic distributions overlap with S. grandiporosa being more southern (northwest Spain–Morocco–Algeria) than S. sarniensis (English Channel–southern Portugal).