
Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(4)
Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2024
Abstract The marine animal phylum Placozoa is characterized by a poorly explored cryptic biodiversity combined with very limited knowledge of their ecology. While placozoans are typically found as part the epibenthos coastal waters, known placozoan predators, namely small, shell‐less sea slugs belonging to family Rhodopidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Heterobranchia), inhabit interstitium seafloor sediment. In order gain further insights into this predator–prey relationship and expand our understanding ecological niches, we screened publicly available whole‐body metagenomic data from two rhodopid specimens collected sediments. Our analysis not only revealed signatures three previously unknown lineages in these slug samples but also enabled assembly complete partial mitochondrial chromosomes four described genera, substantially extending picture biodiversity. findings refine molecular phylogeny Placozoa, corroborate recently established taxonomic ranks phylum, provide support that clades should be referred genera. We finally discuss main finding study – presence floor sediment context ecological, biological, natural history implications.
Язык: Английский