New evidence on the relationships between Hypnophila Bourguignat, 1859 and Gomphroa Westerlund, 1902 (Gastropoda: Eupulmonata: Azecidae)

Abstract

analysis of nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial COI and nuclear 5.8S+ITS2+28S gene fragments was performed on newly obtained specimens of Hypnophila pupaeformis (Cantraine). The results partially agree with previous morphological (shell and genitalia) analysis. They support separateness of H. pupaeformis from all species assigned to Gomphroa, Cryptazeca, Hypnocarnica and Azeca. They also show close relationships of H. pupaeformis with the Gomphroa group. Indeed Hypnophila and Gomphroa form a clade consisting of four subclades: Hypnophila and three lineages named provisionally Gomphroa A, Gomphroa B and Gomphroa C. However, more research is needed to determine their relationships and to establish whether Hypnophila and Gomphroa are two genera or two (or even four) subgenera of one genus. key words: Azecidae; genera; systematics; molecular features; COI; ITS2; nucleotide sequences