Phylogenetic analysis of the Antarctic genus Oswaldella Stechow 1919 (Hydrozoa, Leptomedusae, Kirchenpaueriidae)

A cladistic study was carried out on known species of the characteristicall y Antarctic genus Oswaldella(, adopting as outgroups some other genera incl uded in the family Kirchenpaueriidae. The analysis resulted in a cladogram with low CI in which no relationship between genera can be depicted. Howeve r, the hypothesis of monophyly of the genus Oswaldella is corroborated, bei ng supported in our cladogram by five synapomorphies (although all are homo plastic with other taxa or reversed within the species of the genus). The b asal relationships of the genus are uncertain, but three species groups are distinguishable within Oswaldella: 1)the O. incognita group, 2) the O. ant arctica group, and 3) a clade formed by (O. garciacarrascosai, O. elongata (O, blanconae (O, gracilis (O. herwigi, Oswaldella sp. two)))).