Unexpected Absence of Population Structure and High Genetic Diversity of the Western Atlantic Hermit Crab Clibanarius antillensis Stimpson, 1859 (Decapoda: Diogenidae) Based on Mitochondrial Markers and Morphological Data

Recent studies on genetic variability have revealed different patterns of structure among populations marine decapod species with wide geographical distribution. The hermit crab Clibanarius antillensis has a broad distribution along the western Atlantic Ocean, from south Florida (United States) to Santa Catarina (Brazil). This factor, in addition differences larval morphology and adult coloration, makes this good model for intraspecific variations. Therefore, we evaluated molecular morphological C. its order check levels population structure. results were based analyses 187 individuals 38 partial sequences mitochondrial gene 16S rRNA 46 cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) specimens whose locations covered whole did not show any apparent antillensis. result was corroborated by since characters analyzed pattern variation. Our may be explained set factors, such as dispersive potential absence barriers that could prevent flow. In addition, high diversity observed, mainly COI, which historical processes species, seem almost constant expansion last 700,000 years experienced no bottleneck. Apparently, little affected climate fluctuations Pleistocene. Additionally, our allowed us present herein redescription studied noted diagnosis.