Morphological and DNA-based taxonomy of Tudorella P. Fischer, 1885 (Caenogastropoda: Pomatiidae)

The study of the shell size and shape, including microsculpture of protoconch and teleoconch, together with anatomical studies of the reproductive system allowed us to discriminate three different morphospecies within Tudorella: T. ferruginea, T. mauretanica and T. sulcata. DNA sequences of two mitochondrial genes, COI and 16S rRNA were used to understand the phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Both individual and combined analyses of these genes showed three main genetically unique lineages which were considered as different species. There was a complete congruence between morphology and phylogeny. The validity of the monophyletic T. sulcata melitense and T. s. sulcata were also evaluated on the basis of their genetic divergences and morphology.