Delineation of new Aplysina species from the Mexican Pacific under the framework of the taxonomic circle [12].
A) The first hypothesis consists in differentiating the new species A. clathrata sp. nov. and A. revillagigedi sp. nov. from A. gerardogreeni, based on an initial morphological distinction. For this, ecological and structural biochemical evidence per se are not conclusive to break-out of the circle. Geography could allow breaking-out the circle for A. revillagigedi sp. nov. (dashed arrow), an insular endemic, but not for both. However the integration of the molecular data in the form of diagnostic characters as well as quantitative divergence and phylogenetic analyses provide congruent information with the rest allowing to breakout of the circle; B) The second hypothesis consists in differentiating the two new species. For this geographical distribution (continental vs. insular) could help to break out of the circle (dashed arrows) but structural biochemistry remains inconclusive. However, the addition of molecular evidence indicating the genetic distinction and diagnostic characters in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes provide the unequivocal evidence of reproductive isolation, allowing breaking out of the circle.
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