The genus Acanthochitona (Mollusca: Polylacophora) in the Mediterranean Sea: morphological and molecular data

Abstract

This work represents an attempt to resolve the confused and contradictory taxonomy of Mediterranean chitons of the genus Acanthochitona by analysing morphological (SEM observations of aesthetes, radula and girdle) and molecular data (COI, 12S, ITS1). Both analyses support the validity of the three species, Acanthochitona fascicularis, A. crinita and A. oblonga, the latter two of which were previously considered as synonymous.

Keywords

• sem morphology
• molecular systematics
• mediterranean sea
• acanthochitona
• polyplacophora