Molecular phylogeny and siphonal diversity of the superfamily Tellinoidea (Mollusca, Bivalvia)

The paper presents ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from bivalves of the most species-rich superfamily of Bivalvia, i.e., Tellinoidea. A total of 825 UCE loci were extracted from 33 species, including both fresh and historical samples up to 61 years old. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrate the usefulness of these UCEs in resolving long-standing and conflicting relationships among genera and families. For example, our analyses recovered Donacidae as monophyletic, whereas Solecurtidae were inferred as paraphyletic, and Psammobiidae, Semelidae, and Tellinidae were resolved as polyphyletic lineages.