Genus Hyalella (Amphipoda: Hyalellidae) in Humid Pampas: molecular diversity and a provisional new species

Hyalella is a genus of epigean freshwater amphipods endemic to the Americas. The study morphological characters alone has traditionally dominated description new species. Recently, molecular systematics tools have contributed identifying many cryptic species and high level convergent evolution in complexes from North America South American highlands. In this study, we evaluate for first time diversity spp. Uruguay, country located humid pampa ecoregion, based on four markers. Thus, investigate systematic position H. curvispina context available phylogenetic hypothesis genus. Phylogenetic analyses confirm that there “curvispina complex”. This complex includes several similar forms but paraphyletic relation some altiplano addition, found one provisional results obtained are contrasted with previous studies help understand mechanisms genetic differentiation speciation genus, which seems strong tendency towards convergence.