'Cryptic' species are an emerging biological problem that is broadly discussed in the present study. Recently, a cryptic definition was suggested for those which manifest low morphological, but considerable genetic, disparity. As case study we unique material from charismatic group of nudibranch molluscs genus Trinchesia European waters to reveal three new and demonstrate they show dual nature: on one hand, can be considered 'cryptic' complex due their overall similarity, other stable...

The diversity of Mediterranean nudibranchs has yet to be thoroughly studied: new species are constantly described, and molecular approaches have revealed some cryptic species. A facelinid been discovered based on specimens collected from the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). Integrative results analyses anatomical investigations support description Dondice trainitoi sp. nov. characteristic chromatic body pattern black epithelium covering masticatory jaws allow an unambiguous identification...

ABSTRACT Climate emergency and other anthropogenic pressures urgently call for technological methodological advances to enhance our ability protect marine habitats their ecosystem services. In recent years, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has emerged as a powerful tool achieve an integrative assessment of the health status, through broad, relatively rapid, cost‐effective taxonomic monitoring biodiversity at different spatial scales. Here we provide time‐based overview applications...

Understanding the impacts of microplastics on living organisms in aquatic habitats is one hottest research topics worldwide. Despite increased attention, investigating underwater environments remains a problematic task, due to ubiquitous occurrence microplastic, its multiple modes interactions with biota, and diversity synthetic organic polymers composing field. Several studies focused marine invertebrates, but date, benthic sea slugs (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) were not yet...

The state of knowledge the alien marine Mollusca in Italy is reviewed and updated. Littorina saxatilis (Olivi, 1792), Polycera hedgpethi Er. Marcus, 1964 Haminoea japonica Pilsbry, 1895are here considered as established on basis published unpublished data, recent records latter considerably expand its known Mediterranean range to Tyrrhenian Sea. COI sequences obtained indicate that a comprehensive survey additional European localities needed elucidate dispersal pathways japonica.Recent...

Abstract Species delimitation is particularly challenging in Mediterranean nudibranchs because morphological distinction between closely related species subtle and several cryptic have been discovered. In this study, we apply an integrative approach to investigate taxonomic of Flabellina cavolini F. gaditana assess their genetic morphologic distinction. We combined a comprehensive phylogeographic survey from across distribution range compared variation at mitochondrial nuclear markers with...

The mollusc fauna of the Mediterranean Sea is still considered as best-known marine in world. previous modern checklists Mollusca were produced by joint teams amateurs and professionals. During last years Italian Society Malacology (Società Italiana di Malacologia – S.I.M.) maintained an updated version checklist, that served backbone for development new checklist. According to current (updated on April 1st, 2021), 1,777 recognised species molluscs are present Economic Exclusive Zone,...

The Salento peninsula is a portion of the Italian mainland separating two distinct Mediterranean basins, Ionian and Adriatic seas. Several authors have studied marine Heterobranchia (Mollusca, Gastropoda) fauna composition living in Sea, but to date further knowledge regarding this interesting group mollusks still needed. Recent studies corroborated peculiarity Sea showing high levels endemism cryptic diversity. On other hand, sea slugs been revealed be important indicators ecosystem’s...

The Mediterranean Sea diversity is still far from being fully disclosed. Marine Heterobranchia are one of the most paradigmatic species-rich groups, with many recent systematic studies revealing high density new, cryptic, and endemic species occurring in basin. In this study, sea slug Doriopsilla areolata, which was considered until today widespread nudibranchs worldwide, investigated using a molecular approach to compare Atlantic populations for first time. analyses involved three different...

Microplastic pollution constitutes a serious environmental problem that requires more effective scientific research to describe its potential impacts on marine fauna. The interaction between microplastics and biota can have significant negative effects through the trophic chain, up human health. To date, several steps forward been made in our understanding of this phenomenon; however, large knowledge gaps still exist for taxa areas. In particular, pattern spatial temporal distribution...

The worldwide diffused bubble snails, Haminoeidae, although characterized by an extreme morphological homogeneity, display the most diverse radiation inside order Cephalaspidea. This hidden diversity within family Haminoeidae was recently unraveled molecular studies, which helped to understand evolutionary history of this group clarifying some aspects its systematics. In fact, type genus Haminoea W. Turton and Kingston (1830) proved be polyphyletic and, consequently, sensu stricto restricted...

Specimens of the nudibranch genus Calma were observed under stones at two Croatian localities while feeding on gobiid eggs. Some ambiguous morphological features compared with original descriptions known species genus, C. glaucoides and gobioophaga, hampered an easy identification. Genetic data (COI 16S sequences) confirmed distinction between Calma, allowed to unambiguously identify specimens as gobioophaga. This is first record this for Mediterranean extends remarkably its distribution...

The chromodorid nudibranchs Felimare tricolor (Cantraine, 1835), F. fontandraui (Pruvot-Fol, 1951) and picta (Shultz in Philippi, 1836) typically show highly variable colour patterns that are misleading for species identification. Their taxonomy has long been confused, their identification can be difficult if based only on morphological characters. We carried out molecular genetic analyses using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) 16S rDNA markers Mediterranean samples of...

The introduction rate of alien species in the Mediterranean Sea is rapidly growing, and their taxonomical identification increasingly challenging. This uncertain often leads to an incorrect estimation number species, route introduction, potential negative effects. particularly true for some bivalves, which are characterized by high variation shells, resulting morphological identification. case two i.e., Isognomonidae a Malleidae both confused historical colonization records Sea,...

The Mediterranean Sea hosts a great Nudibranchia diversity and has proved to be particularly intriguing in the case of family Onchidorididae, group dorid nudibranchs that lately increased its with addition one recently described species. Onchidorididae troubled systematic history date, characterized by uncertainties genera are considered valid or not, according different authors. This confused taxonomy reflects lack broad comprehensive view on phylogenetic relationships occurring between...

The first record from Sicily of the introduced facelinid nudibranch Godiva quadricolor allowed detection trophic relationships with polycerid Polycera hedgpethi, another non-native nudibranch, and two bryozoan species, namely naturalized Cheilostomatida Bugula neritina cryptogenic Ctenostomatida Amathia verticillata. settlement both nudibranchs was presumably promoted by a shift P. hedgpethi natural prey B. towards largely available not exploited A. This short food web, without evident links...

The nudibranch Diaphorodoris luteocincta (M. Sars, 1870) shows two colour morphotypes defined as D. var. alba and reticulata, which are easy to identify share an overlapping distribution in the Mediterranean Sea North-Eastern Atlantic Ocean. Their systematics has long been discussed by several authors until recently when a molecular study proposed varieties intraspecific variability occurring within species. In order solve their ranking status, we have carried out morphological on anatomical...

The aeolid nudibranch Caloria elegans (Facelinidae) is quite common in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic Ocean easily recognized by presence of a typical black spot at apical portion its cerata. Facelina quatrefagesi was long considered as synonym C. until recently, when it re-evaluated valid species based mainly on rhinophore morphology. In order to definitively assess status these taxa, we employed an integrative taxonomy approach using nuclear H3 two mitochondrial cytochrome...

Abstract Monitoring the spread of non-indigenous species is fundamental to study global warming effects on marine biodiversity. A valuable tool represented by continuous updating geographic range expansion species. Lamprohaminoea ovalis a Lessepsian mollusc initially recorded in Mediterranean Sea 2001. This paper reports its over last 20 years related water warming. The first record from Ligurian (NW Mediterranean) also reported. Two individuals (about 10 mm length) were observed...

We report the discovery of Indo-Pacific sacoglossan Elysia nealae Ostergaard, 1955 from northeastern Sardinia (Central Tyrrhenian Sea). This is first record this species in western Mediterranean Sea and only second for whole following a Cape Epanomi, Greece. discuss identification as well expansion its geographical range. Data on ecology behavior E. leads us to hypothesize that increase Mediterranean’s water temperature due climate change has favored non-native contributed expanded...