Troglomorphism in the brittle star Ophionereis commutabilis Bribiesca-Contreras et al., 2019 (Echinodermata, Ophiuroidea, Ophionereididae)
Por:
Marquez-Borras, Francisco, Solis-Marin, Francisco A., Mejia-Ortiz, Luis M.
Publicada:
5 mar 2020
Resumen:
Due to their peculiar and sometimes bizarre morphology, cave fauna
(across invertebrates and vertebrates from both aquatic and terrestrial
cave habitats) have fascinated researchers throughout history. Despite
their success in colonizing most marine ecosystems, the adaptations of
cave brittle stars (Ophiuroidea) to a stygobiotic lifestyle have been
scarcely examined. Employing comparative methods on a data set of two
species belonging to the genus Ophionereis, this study addresses whether
a cave-dwelling species from Cozumel exhibited similar troglomorphic
traits as those of other taxa inhabiting caves. Our work demonstrated
that some characters representing potential morphological cave
adaptations in O. commutabilis were: bigger sizes, elongation of arms
and tube feet and the presence of traits potentially paedomorphic. In
addition, an element of ophiuroid's photoreceptor system, as well as
pigmentation, was observed to be peculiar in this stygobiotic species,
plausibly as a result of inhabiting a low light-energy environment.
Finally, we add evidence to the statement that O. commutabilis is a cave
endemic species, already supported by demography, distribution and
origin of this species, and now by a typical array of troglomorphisms.
Filiaciones:
Marquez-Borras, Francisco:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ciencias Mar & Limnol ICML, Posgrad Ciencias Mar & Limnol, Apdo Post 70-305, Ciudad De Mixico 04510, Mexico
Solis-Marin, Francisco A.:
Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico, Inst Ciencias Mar & Limnol, Lab Sistemat & Ecol Equinodermos, Circuito Univ S-N, Ciudad De Mexico 04510, Mexico
Mejia-Ortiz, Luis M.:
Univ Quintana Roo, Lab Bioespeleol & Carcinol, Div Desarrollo Sustentable, Av Andres Quintana Roo S-N, Cozumel 77600, Quintana Roo, Mexico
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