Molecular systematics of the Gonodactylidae (Stomatopoda) using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase C (subunit 1) DNA sequence data

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the stomatopod family Gonodactylidae and selected representatives of the superfamily Gonodactyloidea was conducted using 649 base pairs of DNA sequence data from mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase C subunit 1 (CO-I). Results showed the family Gonodactylidae is not monophyletic (P < 0.0001). Within the Gonodactylidae, results are inconclusive as, to whether Gonodactylellus. Gonodactylinus, and Gonodactylus represent distinct monophyletic taxa or should be collapsed into a single genus Gonodactylus. Results strongly indicate that Gonodactylellus is polyphyletic; four of the five Gonodactylellus species examined formed a monophyletic trade which was closely related to Gonadactylus and Gonodactylinus, while Gonodactylellus hendersoni was found to be deeply divergent from its congeners and formed a strong monophyletic group with members of Gonodactylopsis and Hoplosquilla. The genus Gonodactylaceus was found to be monophyletic and highly divergent from the other gonodactylid genera. The species Gonodactylaceus aloha is shown to be a synonym of G. mutatus. Finally, although our analysis suggests a close relationship of Odontodactylus and Hemisquilla, high levels of nucleotide substitution saturation prevented the resolution of deep (family level) branches within the phylogenetic structure of this relatively old stomatopod lineage.