Publication
Speciation in the deep: Genomics and morphology reveal a new species of beaked whale Mesoplodon eueu
Publisher:
The Royal Society
Date:
27-10-2021
DOI:
10.1098/RSPB.2021.1213
Abstract: The deep sea has been described as the last major ecological frontier, as much of its bio ersity is yet to be discovered and described. Beaked whales (ziphiids) are among the most visible inhabitants of the deep sea, due to their large size and worldwide distribution, and their taxonomic ersity and much about their natural history remain poorly understood. We combine genomic and morphometric analyses to reveal a new Southern Hemisphere ziphiid species, Ramari's beaked whale, Mesoplodon eueu , whose name is linked to the Indigenous peoples of the lands from which the species holotype and paratypes were recovered. Mitogenome and ddRAD-derived phylogenies demonstrate reciprocally monophyletic ergence between M. eueu and True's beaked whale ( M. mirus ) from the North Atlantic, with which it was previously subsumed. Morphometric analyses of skulls also distinguish the two species. A time-calibrated mitogenome phylogeny and analysis of two nuclear genomes indicate ergence began circa 2 million years ago (Ma), with geneflow ceasing 0.35–0.55 Ma. This is an ex le of how deep sea bio ersity can be unravelled through increasing international collaboration and genome sequencing of archival specimens. Our consultation and involvement with Indigenous peoples offers a model for broadening the cultural scope of the scientific naming process.