How Many Abalone Species Live in the Mediterranean Sea?

Morphological traits in Haliotidae may be highly variable and not consistently diagnostic for species identification, highlighting the need an integrative approach to taxonomy of family, including genetic data. Four genus Haliotis are currently reported Mediterranean Sea neighboring Atlantic Ocean: tuberculata, common European abalone with widest Atlanto-Mediterranean range; mykonosensis, from Aegean, Tyrrhenian, Adriatic; stomatiaeformis, Malta, Lampedusa, southeastern Sicily; Lessepsian pustulata, only known on basis few samples Levant. However, their taxonomic status still relies shell morphology. Here, sequences two fragments mitochondrial molecular marker COI were obtained 84 specimens collected analyzed order provide first time a framework delimitation. This study’s results prove that H. mykonosensis is genetically identical whereas stomatiaeformis distinct species, endemic restricted area southern Sea. Finally, tuberculata coccinea Macaronesia deserve its as subspecies signature limited gene flow found nominal (H. t. tuberculata) both