Molecular Evidence for the Placement of Microcerberidae (Crustacea: Isopoda) Within the Suborder Asellota and Invalidity of the Suborder Microcerberidea
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Since their discovery, the question of the phylogenetic position of Microcerberidae within Isopoda has been widely debated. Initially perceived as close relatives of the Anthuridae, the debate has shifted towards considering them either as a sister group of Asellota or positioned within the Asellota in their own right. In this study, we used sequence data for eight slow‐evolving nuclear genes in 37 isopod taxa to test for the hypothesis that Microcerberidae were Asellota and, as such, should not be regarded as an independent suborder within the Isopoda. We also evaluated the earlier hypothesis of a sister relationship between the Anthuridae and Microcerberidae. Altogether, our results provide strong evidence in favour of a clade including the Microcerberidae and the Aselloidea, which supports the invalidation of the suborder Microcerberidea.
Source: Zoologica Scripta
DOI: 10.1111/zsc.70063
Institutions: Lyon 1 Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Universitaire de France, École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État, Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés, Sorbonne Université, Observatoire Océanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Ewha Womans University, National Institute of Biological Resources, Monash University, Wellcome Sanger Institute
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,100
Awards: Démêler les processus évolutifs et écologiques responsables des patrons de biodiversité aquatique souterraine, Influence of effective population size on animal genome architecture, Integrative study of convergent genomic evolution across three animal groups, School of Integrated Watershed Sciences, The European Biodiversity Partnership
OpenAlex ID: W7161381090