Life history diversity and molecular phylogeny in the Australian sea star genus Patiriella

A molecular and morphological review of the asterinid, Patiriella gunnii (Gray) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

“…O'Loughlin et al (2002) reviewed the status of Patiriella Verrill, 1913, and noted that recent molecular phylogenetic analyses of species of Asterinidae (Hart et al, 1997;Byrne et al, 1999;J. M. Waters and M. S. Roy, unpubl. data) were beginning to provide a basis for a reassessment of asterinid taxonomy.…”

“…On the morphological evidence P. brevispina is considered here to be a junior synonym of A. gunnii. Hart et al (1997) and Byrne et al (1999) found from molecular evidence that P. 'brevispina' specimens from eastern Australia (Mornington Peninsula, Vic.) and Western Australia (Perth) were closely related.…”

“…Hart et al (1997) and Byrne et al (1999) found from molecular evidence that specimens of Patiriella 'gunnii' from eastern and western Australia had divergent lineages. The western material was collected from Margaret River in WA (L. Marsh, pers.…”

“…The limited live colour data available for confirmed determinations indicates that white or pink or mauve or orange or bright red, with a dark centre, are frequently evident abactinally. Byrne et al (1999) concluded that "P. gunnii from eastern and western Australia are different species, while P. brevispina from eastern and western Australia are the same species". These conclusions were premature as they were based on relative levels of mtDNA divergence rather than any direct assessment of reproductive isolation (biological species concept, Dobzhansky, 1937;Mayr, 1942), or monophyly (phylogenetic species concept, Cracraft, 1983).…”

“…Clark, 1938. Molecular evidence indicated to Hart et al (1997) and Byrne et al (1999) that there were genetically divergent eastern and western forms of what is currently referred to as P. gunnii in southern Australia, and that a taxonomic revision was necessary. Gray (1840) described Asterina gunnii from material sent to the British Museum (Natural History) (BMNH, now The Natural History Museum, London) from "Van Diemen's Land" (Tasmania, Australia) by Ronald Gunn.…”