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Phylogenetic relationships within the class holothuroidea, inferred from 18S rRNA gene data

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Abstract

This molecular phylogenetic analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA (18SrDNA) gene sequences from 16 species of holothuroid, suggests strong support for an alternative taxonomic scheme to replace the existing classification. When trees drawn from the 18S rDNA data were constrained to show expected relationships between the holothourid orders, they were significantly worse than the best tree under SH tests. These analyses indicated strongly that the subclass Aspidochirotacea is paraphyletic. Sequences from the order Dendrochirotida grouped with aspidochiroitid sequences, with high bootstrap support, to the exclusion of the elasipod sequence. In line with recent morphological studies the order Apodida were a basal sister group to the other three holothuroid orders examined and the Dendrochirotida was a derived holothuroid order.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to dedicate this manuscript to the memory of Prof. Brendan Keegan and Dr. Richard Powell who have passed away. K.M.J. Lacey gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance provided throughout this research by Alexander Kerr, Dave Pawson and Dai Roberts. Thanks are also extended to Andrew Smith. This research was funded by Enterprise Ireland, National University of Ireland, Galway, and Wexford County Council. All experiments were carried out in Ireland and complied with current Irish laws.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Martin Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Katrina M. J. Lacey, Grace P. McCormack & Brendan F. Keegan

  2. Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

    Richard Powell

  3. Department of Biology, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Country Kildare, Ireland

    Grace P. McCormack

Authors
  1. Katrina M. J. Lacey
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  2. Grace P. McCormack
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  3. Brendan F. Keegan
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  4. Richard Powell
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Correspondence to Grace P. McCormack.

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Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe

Brendan F. Keegan, Richard Powell: R.I.P

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Lacey, K.M.J., McCormack, G.P., Keegan, B.F. et al. Phylogenetic relationships within the class holothuroidea, inferred from 18S rRNA gene data. Marine Biology 147, 1149–1154 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-005-0009-2

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