An integrative taxonomic approach to delimit Eunicella gorgonians (Octocorallia, Eunicellidae): Evidence of Eunicella cf. gazella in the southern Mediterranean
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Species delimitation is a fundamental step in biodiversity research, yet it remains particularly challenging in octocorals due to morphological variability and plasticity, cryptic diversity, and limited resolution of barcoding markers. In this paper, we investigate the taxonomic status of Eunicella colonies from the Western Tunisian and Eastern Algerian coasts using an integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological (colony shape, sclerites) and molecular analyses (mitochondrial DNA sequencing and RAD sequencing). Morphological analyses revealed colonies distinct from known Mediterranean species (Eunicella cavolini, Eunicella singularis and Eunicella verrucosa), with sclerite features consistent with Eunicella gazella, a species previously thought to be restricted to the eastern Atlantic and the Alboran Sea at the westernmost limit of the Mediterranean basin. Mitochondrial data supported this identification, and SNP analysis (20,861 loci) confirmed the presence of a cluster genetically distinct from the three known Mediterranean species (E. cavolini, E. singularis and E. verrucosa), with high pairwise FST values and no sign of admixture. These findings represent the first confirmed record of E. cf. gazella in the central southern Mediterranean and demonstrate the value of integrative taxonomy in resolving species boundaries, revealing overlooked lineages, and supporting conservation efforts and biodiversity assessments in underexplored regions.
Source: Mediterranean Marine Science
DOI: 10.12681/mms.43038
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Toulon, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut Méditerranéen d’Océanologie, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Tunis El Manar University, Ifremer, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, Badji Mokhtar-Annaba University, Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, University of Algarve, Universidade do Porto, Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Sorbonne Université, Institut de Systématique, Évolution, Biodiversité, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Université des Antilles
Language: English
Subfield: Oceanography
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7224093523