An integrative taxonomic approach to delimit Eunicella gorgonians (Octocorallia, Eunicellidae): Evidence of Eunicella cf. gazella in the southern Mediterranean
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 F ST 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.
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BibTeX
@article{abbes2026integrative,
title = {{An integrative taxonomic approach to delimit Eunicella gorgonians (Octocorallia, Eunicellidae): Evidence of Eunicella cf. gazella in the southern Mediterranean}},
author = {Nawras Abbes and Stéphane Sartoretto and Raouia Ghanem and Jamila Ben Souissi and Lamya Chaoui and Mohamed Hichem Kara and Sabri Jaziri and Márcio a G Coelho and Jean-Baptiste Ledoux and Marc Bally and Lilia Bahri Sfar and Didier Aurelle},
journal = {Mediterranean Marine Science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.12681/mms.43038},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05839186v1},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An integrative taxonomic approach to delimit Eunicella gorgonians (Octocorallia, Eunicellidae): Evidence of Eunicella cf. gazella in the southern Mediterranean
AU - Nawras Abbes
AU - Stéphane Sartoretto
AU - Raouia Ghanem
AU - Jamila Ben Souissi
AU - Lamya Chaoui
AU - Mohamed Hichem Kara
AU - Sabri Jaziri
AU - Márcio a G Coelho
AU - Jean-Baptiste Ledoux
AU - Marc Bally
AU - Lilia Bahri Sfar
AU - Didier Aurelle
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/26
JO - Mediterranean Marine Science
DO - 10.12681/mms.43038
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05839186v1
AB - 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 F ST 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.
SN - 1108-393X
SN - 1791-6763
ER -