Discriminating among similar deep-sea Yoldiella (Pelecypoda: Protobranchia) species with a morphometric approach

作者：Benaim Natalia Pereira^*; Absalao Ricardo Silva

来源：Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 2011, 91(8): 1665-1672.

DOI：10.1017/S0025315411000063

• morphometry
• deep-sea
• Pelecypoda
• Protobranchia
• Yoldiella

Eight species of Yoldiella (Yoldiella biguttata Allen, Sanders & Hannah, 1995; Yoldiella similis Allen, Sanders & Hannah, 1995; Yoldiella extensa Allen, Sanders & Hannah, 1995; Yoldiella off jeffreysi (Hidalgo, 1877); Yoldiella sp.1; Yoldiella sp. 2; Yoldiella 5. 3 and Yoldiella sp. 4) from the continental slope off Rio de Janeiro were used to test if quantitative morphometric measurements of shell shape and hinge plate could effectively discriminate among them. Thirty specimens of each species were sampled, and a total of 25 variables were established and utilized as input data to perform a discriminant analysis. The percentage of correctly classified cases was never less than 80%. The hinge plate variables were always relevant, and the most important one wets the width of the posterior hinge plate. On the other hand, shell shape variables, when present, were secondary. Considering that the variation in the shell of Yoldiella species is subtle, and also the findings of this study, we can state that the hinge plate morphometry has good potential to improve species discrimination.

• 出版日期2011-12