GENETIC AND GEOMETRIC MORPHOMETRIC METHODS REVEALED A CRYPTIC SPECIES OF ENSIS (BIVALVIA: PHARIDAE) FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN PACIFIC COAST

JAVIER SIGNORELLI; MÁRQUEZ, FEDERICO; TROVANT, BERENICE

Congreso; XI Congreso Latinoamericano de Malacología; 2020

Asociación Latinoamericana de Malacología (ALM), en conjunto con la Asociación Argentina de Malacología (ASAM), la Sociedade Brasileira de Malacología (SBMa), la Sociedad Malacológica de Chile (SMACH) y la Sociedad Malacológica del Uruguay (SMU)

A new cryptic species of Ensis from the Southern Pacific coast of South America based ongenetic and geometric morphometric methods is revealed. Ensis macha is one of the mostimportant shellfish resources in South America. It was historically reported from San Matias gulf,Argentina in the Atlantic Ocean to the Peruvian coast in the Pacific. A recent study analyzed theintraspecific variation of this species along its distribution range and the genetic resultsindicated the presence of criptic diversity. Two evolutionary units were found: a Southern unit(from cold-temperate waters) and a Northern unit (from warm-temperate waters). Based on thetype locality of E. macha, the Southern unit retain the name, whereas the Northern clade isformally recognized as a new species. In addition, new results based on geometricmorphometrics supported the description of a new species for the Northern unit. The descriptionof a new species of razor clam for the southeastern Pacific Ocean has important implications forfuture studies focused on fisheries management and biogeographical radiation of the group.