Abstract
Eight species ofYoldiella(Yoldiella biguttataAllen, Sanders & Hannah, 1995;Yoldiella similisAllen, Sanders & Hannah, 1995;Yoldiella extensaAllen, Sanders & Hannah, 1995;Yoldiellaaff.jeffreysi(Hidalgo, 1877);Yoldiellasp.1;Yoldiellasp. 2;Yoldiellasp. 3 andYoldiellasp. 4) from the continental slope off Rio de Janeiro were used to test if quantitative morphometric measurements of shell shape and hinge plate could effectively discriminate among them. Thirty specimens of each species were sampled, and a total of 25 variables were established and utilized as input data to perform a discriminant analysis. The percentage of correctly classified cases was never less than 80%. The hinge plate variables were always relevant, and the most important one was the width of the posterior hinge plate. On the other hand, shell shape variables, when present, were secondary. Considering that the variation in the shell ofYoldiellaspecies is subtle, and also the findings of this study, we can state that the hinge plate morphometry has good potential to improve species discrimination.
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