Two Radix spp. (Gastropoda: Lymnaeidae) endemic to thermal springs around Lake Baikal represent ecotypes of the widespread Radix auricularia |
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| Authors: | Olga Aksenova Maxim Vinarski Ivan Bolotov Alexander Kondakov Yulia Bespalaya Alyona Tomilova Inga Paltser Mikhail Gofarov |
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| Institution: | 1. Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research of Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia;2. Northern Arctic Federal University, Arkhangelsk, Russia;3. Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia;4. Museum of Siberian Aquatic Molluscs, Omsk State Pedagogical University, Omsk, Russia |
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| Abstract: | In this study, we re‐examine two species of freshwater gastropods of the genus Radix Montfort, 1810 (family Lymnaeidae), endemic to the geothermal springs in the Lake Baikal region in the southern part of eastern Siberia — Lymnaea (Radix) hakusyensis Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1989, and Lymnaea (Radix) thermobaicalica Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1989. The alleged species status of these endemics has been re‐assessed by means of an integrative approach combining molecular genetic taxonomy techniques with the traditional methods based on shell and soft body morphology. Phylogenetic reconstructions were made using both mitochondrial (COI) and nuclear (ITS2) DNA markers. We used topotypic samples of both species and specimens sampled from other sites around Lake Baikal. The results demonstrate that the two endemic species are only synonyms of a widespread Holarctic species, Radix auricularia (Linnaeus, 1758), and represent its intraspecific morph (ecotype) adapted to living in thermal springs. A new synonymy is proposed: Thermoradix Kruglov et Starobogatov, 1989 = Radix Montfort, 1810 (syn. n.). |
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| Keywords: | endemic species hot springs integrative taxonomy morphotypes
Radix auricularia
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