Morphological and genetic differentiation of Patella granularis (Gastropoda: Patellidae): recognition of two sibling species along the coast of southern Africa

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1998.tb00107.x
• Publication Date: 2006-02-28T12:23:17Z
• Authors: Tyrone M. Ridgway; Barbara A. Stewart; George M. Branch; Alan N. Hodgson
• Keywords: Limpet; East coast; West coast; Morphometrics; Reproductive isolation

Abstract Morphological and isozyme variations between 13 populations of the species hitherto named Patella granularis were investigated to see whether differences in shell structure west coast versus south east coasts southern Africa are supported by other morphological features or genetic differences. The shells showed a definite decrease size from east, but this is correlated with productivity no diagnostic use distinguishing populations. Discriminant functions analysis based on morphometrics failed separate three coastal regions. Shells northern do, however, have nodules dark pigmentation, distinctly separating them those further west. No radular soft part morphology detected populations, four northernmost significantly shorter Z looping gut than along coast. Significant microstructural sperm also these two groups Electrophoretic 16 enzyme loci detect any significant revealed identity (Nei) 0.528 as well alleles compared genetically distinct forms occurred sympatrically at one study sites (Coffee Bay). It was concluded groupings sufficiently different warrant recognition species, which centred KwaZulu‐Natal extends Coffee Bay, where it replaced P. . There is, evidence all that way separable remaining