Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Retrotapes del Río, 1997 (Bivalvia: Veneridae) and systematic analysis of its taxa from Chile

Since the genus Retrotapes was erected, some authors have been in favor or against its validity, or argued the assignment of the extant species R. exalbidus and R. lenticularis to Retrotapes. Some authors synonymized Retrotapes with the Miocene genus Frigichione, and others with the extant genus Eurhomalea to which most of the species that belong to Retrotapes were previously assigned. In the present contribution, a phylogenetic analysis of the genus is performed to test these controversies. Besides, a systematic revision of the Chilean species of the genus is performed to complete the analysis of the Retrotapes taxa from Patagonia and Antarctica started by previous authors. This study demonstrates that Retrotapes is a monophyletic genus, which is not closely related to Frigichione or Eurhomalea. But instead, it is closely related to some Austral taxa from Kerguelen Island (Paleomarcia), New Zealand (Atamarcia) and Australia (Katelysia), a relationship previously unknown. Besides, the ...