Molecular data delineate crypticNassariusspecies and characterize spatial genetic structure ofN. nitidus

Abstract

Nassarius nitidusis a marine snail species with a widespread distribution along European shorelines from the North Sea to the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Despite its widespread distribution,N. nitidushas been largely neglected due to taxonomic confusion with the congenericNassarius reticulatus. Discrimination between these twoNassariusis particularly challenging in areas where their ranges overlap: the European Atlantic and western Mediterranean. Here, we propose the use of the mtDNA gene cytochromecoxidase subunit I (COI) to discriminate between these two morphologically similar congeneric species. A numerically comprehensive sampling of the areas of overlap reveals strong population-level differentiation inN. nitidus, particularly between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Despite this strong population structure, we found a wide (9.6 ± 1.6% mean K2P corrected sequence distance) barcoding gap withN. reticulatusthat guarantees that COI barcodes may serve as a reliable diagnostic tool. A protocol using species-specific restriction patterns was developed to allow a quick and accurate discrimination between these two cryptic species.