Phylogenetic position of a deep-sea ascidian, Megalodicopia hians, inferred from the molecular data

Zoolog Sci. 2003 Oct;20(10):1243-7. doi: 10.2108/zsj.20.1243.

Abstract

Ascidians inhabit both shallow water and the deep sea. The phylogenetic position of deep-sea ascidians has not been sufficiently investigated because of their unusual habitats. The family Octacnemidae is one such enigmatic deep-sea ascidian. In this report, we determined the sequences of the 18SrDNA and a mitochondrial protein gene of Megalodicopia hians belonging to the family Octacnemidae, and we analyzed its phylogenetic relationship with other ascidians. A phylogenetic relationship of this family with the families Cionidae and/or Corellidae has been suspected based on a small number of morphological characteristics. However, our results suggested that M. hians has a close relationship to the family Corellidae and might originate from them. This is the first report of the molecular phylogenetic analysis of a deep-sea ascidian.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cluster Analysis
  • DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Pacific Ocean
  • Phylogeny*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Urochordata / genetics*

Substances

  • DNA, Mitochondrial
  • DNA, Ribosomal