The dark side of pseudoscorpion diversity: The German Barcode of Life campaign reveals high levels of undocumented diversity in European false scorpions.

ABSTRACT: DNA barcoding is particularly useful for identification and species delimitation in taxa with conserved morphology. Pseudoscorpions are arachnids with high prevalence of morphological crypsis. Here, we present the first comprehensive DNA barcode library for Central European Pseudoscorpiones, covering 70% of the German pseudoscorpion fauna (35 out of 50 species). For 21 species, we provide the first publicly available COI barcodes, including the rare Anthrenochernes stellae Lohmander, a species protected by the FFH Habitats Directive. The pattern of intraspecific COI variation and interspecific COI variation (i.e., presence of a barcode gap) generally allows application of the DNA barcoding approach, but revision of current taxonomic designations is indicated in several taxa. Sequenc

SUBMITTER: Muster C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8525104 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature