Further insights on the genetic structure and connectivity in Octopus vulgaris (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) inferred by mitochondrial COI sequences

MELIS, RICCARDO;CUCCU, DANILA;MEREU, MARCO;CAU, ALESSANDRO;MARCIAS, SANDRO;CAU, ANGELO;CANNAS, RITA

2013-01-01

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Abstract

The genetic variability of the COI gene was studied in the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797. A total of 222 individuals from 7 sampling sites were analysed with the aim of elucidating patterns of genetic variation along the coasts of Sardinia (Western Mediterranean). A total of 17 different haplotypes were identified with four principal haplotypes recorded in all locations. The pairwise Fst and AMOVA revealed a high gene flow and the lack of significant genetic differentiation among populations. All COI sequences were compared with those available in GenBank for the species; the results obtained show a high sequence divergence among O. vulgaris from different geographic locations and emphasize the need for more detailed phylogeographic and/or taxonomic studies to exclude the presence of cryptic species