Data from: The many faced symbiotic snakelocks anemone (Anemonia viridis, Anthozoa): host and symbiont genetic differentiation among colour morphs

How can we explain morphological variations in a holobiont? The genetic
determinism of phenotypes is not always obvious and could be
circumstantial in complex organisms. In symbiotic cnidarians, it is known
that morphology or colour can misrepresent a complex genetic and symbiotic
diversity. Anemonia viridis is a symbiotic sea anemone from temperate
seas. This species displays different colour morphs based on pigment
content and lives in a wide geographical range. Here, we investigated
whether colour morph differentiation correlated with host genetic
diversity or associated symbiotic genetic diversity by using
RAD-sequencing and symbiotic dinoflagellate typing of 140 sea anemones
from the English Channel and the Mediterranean Sea. We did not observe
genetic differentiation among colour morphs of A. viridis at the animal
host or symbiont level, rejecting the hypothesis that A. viridis colour
morphs correspond to species level differences. Interestingly, we however
identified at least four independent animal host genetic lineages in A.
viridis that differed in their associated symbiont populations. In
conclusion, although the functional role of the different morphotypes of
A. viridis remains to be determined, our approach provides new insights on
the existence of cryptic species within A. viridis.