Molecular phylogenetics of the trochid subfamily Umboniinae (Gastropoda: Trochoidea): working towards a new systematic framework

Abstract

ABSTRACT We present here the most taxon-rich phylogeny for the trochid subfamily Umboniinae published to date, with representatives from 14 of the 19 known genera, and as a result show that Umboniinae needs comprehensive taxonomic and systematic revision. We identified one clade corresponding to a new genus with four species collected from deeper water than is typical of most umboniine taxa and one new species likely belonging to a second, undescribed genus (all to be described elsewhere). Only four genera, as currently interpreted were recovered, as monophyletic: Umbonium, Lirularia, Monilea and Rossiteria. Zethalia (monotypic for extant taxa), Pseudominolia, Isanda and Parminolia were all represented by a single species (the latter by Gibbula vanwalleghemi; Poppe, Tagaro & Dekker, 2006). Conotalopia, Ethalia, Ethaliella, Ethminolia, Sericominolia and Vanitrochus were all polyphyletic. We formally recognize the following new combinations: Sericominolia glaphyrella (Melvill & Standen, 1895), Sericominolia vitiliginea (Menke, 1843), Vanitrochus ornatus (Sowerby III, 1903) and Parminolia vanwalleghemi (Poppe, Tagaro & Dekker, 2006), although further molecular studies are desirable to confirm these decisions. The first three generic reassignments make Sericominolia and Vanitrochus monophyletic in our tree. We also suggest that Ethaliella cf. rhodomphala (Souverbie, 1875) should be transferred to one of several clades with species previously assigned to Ethminolia, for which an appropriate genus name has not yet been resolved. This decision makes Ethaliella monophyletic. We also identified several cryptic species complexes, including Rossiteria nucleus (Philippi, 1850), the type species of Rossiteria. The phylogeny presented is a first step towards a more resolved systematic framework for Umboniinae and will allow future studies of key morphological innovations.