Global phylogeny and new classification of the Rapaninae (Gastropoda: Muricidae), dominant molluscan predators on tropical rocky seashores

Abstract

The monophyly of the muricid subfamily Rapaninae has recently been confirmed with molecular techniques, but its composition and the relationships among its constituent genera remain unclear. We use four genes (28S rRNA, 12S rRNA, 16S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, COI) to construct a Bayesian phylogeny of 80 rapanine species (73% of the approximately 109 currently accepted), representing 27 of the 31 nominal genera. This is the most complete phylogeny of this taxonomically confusing subfamily yet produced. We propose a revised phylogenetic classification of the Rapaninae, assigning the recognized species to 28 genera. Most of the morphologically-defined rapanine genera are considered valid, including Purpura, Drupa, Thais and Nassa, but many of them are here restricted or redefined so that they are monophyletic. In particular the familiar genus Thais is narrowly restricted to a single species. Many groups previously accepted as subgenera, including Mancinella, Vasula, Thalessa and Thaisella, are here accorded full generic rank. We describe one new genus, Indothais. While we do not formally alter species-level taxonomy, we show molecular evidence for two cryptic species and several instances of probable species synonymy. We estimate the age of diversification of the Rapaninae as Late Cretaceous (75.9 Ma) and of many of its genera as Miocene.