Molecular phylogenetics of deep-sea amphipods (Eurythenes) reveal a new undescribed species at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, North East Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

The genus Eurythenes S. I. Smith in Scudder, 1882, has been the focus of integrated molecular and morphological taxonomy studies in recent years, resulting in the number of species in the genus increasing from three to eight. Samples of Eurythenes spp. collected using free-fall baited traps from the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP), North East Atlantic Ocean, at 4850 m were examined in this study to investigate the identity of the species found using molecular barcoding methods. Mitochondrial COI analysis confirms the presence of E. maldoror at PAP and data from the nuclear 28S rDNA gene provides independent confirmation of this observation. A new, undescribed species that is clearly divergent from all other known species and molecular lineages was identified, which can be distinguished morphologically from known species. A specimen within the E. magellanicus lineage was also found at the site. We discuss the presence of these three Eurythenes species at the Porcupine Abyssal Plain.

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ORCID for Chris Hauton: orcid.org/0000-0002-2313-4226

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