Abstract
:The diversity of branched Halymenia species in Brazil was assessed by molecular analyses and morphological examination to clarify the status of taxa previously identified as Halymenia floresii and H. pseudofloresii. Molecular tools included sequencing the COI-5P molecular marker for DNA barcoding and rbcL for phylogenetic inferences. Both molecular and morphological results demonstrated that Brazilian specimens previously attributed to H. floresii and H. pseudofloresii do not correspond to these species but constitute three distinct lineages that we propose as the new species: Halymenia ignifera sp. nov., Halymenia pinnatifida sp. nov. and Halymenia silviae sp. nov. We propose that H. floresii and H. pseudofloresii be removed from the Brazilian marine flora. We highlight that without the use of molecular tools, the morphological divergences observed in Brazilian specimens could be misinterpreted as morphological plasticity and lead to incorrect species determinations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
