Emendation of Cibicides Antarcticus (Saidova, 1975) Based on Molecular, Morphological, and ecological Data

Abstract

Shallow water Antarctic cibicidids are traditionally identified as Cibicides refulgens or Cibicidoides lobatulus . However, a recent phylogenetic study based on SSU rDNA sequence data has demonstrated that these Antarctic cibicidids form a well-supported clade that branches sister to Mediterranean C. refulgens and is only distantly related to C. lobatulus . Based on these DNA sequences, and a detailed scanning electron microscopic examination of material from Explorers Cove (McMurdo Sound), we place Antarctic cibicidids in a separate species Cibicides antarcticus (Saidova, 1975), which is emended here with molecular, morphological, and ecological features.