Ka. Crandall et al., The monophyletic origin of freshwater crayfish estimated from nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences, P ROY SOC B, 267(1453), 2000, pp. 1679-1686
Citations number
43
Categorie Soggetti
Experimental Biology
Journal title
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Despite their widespread use as model organisms, the phylogenetic status of
the around 520 species of freshwater crayfish is still in doubt. One hypot
hesis suggests two distinct origins of freshwater crayfish as indicated by
their geographical distribution, with two centres of origin near the two pr
esent centres of diversity; one in south-eastern United States and the othe
r in Victoria, Australia. An alternative theory proposes a single (monophyl
etic) origin of freshwater crayfish. Here we use over 3000 nucleotides from
three different gene regions in estimating phylogenetic relationships amon
g freshwater crayfish and related Crustacea. We show clear evidence for mon
ophyly of freshwater crayfish and for the sister-group relationship between
crayfish and clawed lobsters. Monophyly of the superfamilies Astacoidea an
d Parastacoidea is also supported. However, the monophyly of the family Cam
baridae is questioned with the genus Cambaroides being associated with the
Astacidae.