Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Brooks, William

Thesis/Dissertation Co-Chair

Bennice, Chelsea

Abstract

Cryptic species remain poorly studied in octopuses. Following the reinstatement of the cryptic species, Octopus americanus, suggestions that it should supplant two taxa, Octopus vulgaris types I & II, in the western central and southwestern Atlantic Ocean, respectively, had yet been investigated in southeast Florida. To delineate this species, an integrative approach including morphological assessments and phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial (16S & COI) and nuclear (rhodopsin) genes was employed. The utility of swabbing as a minimally invasive alternative DNA sampling method to tissue was also investigated. This taxon displays similar morphological traits to O. americanus. Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic inference placed this taxon in a highly supported monophyletic group with O. americanus. Both sampling methods delineated this taxon, though tissue was more successful. These results indicate that southeast Florida’s O. vulgaris-like species represents O. americanus. Thorough species delineation approaches advance our understanding of biodiversity, evolution, and ecology, and inform management practices.

Extent

95 p.

Comments

Includes bibliography.|Thesis (MS)--Florida Atlantic University, 2024.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Includes bibliography.

Identifier

FA00014515

Format

pdf

Download

Share

COinS