Phylogenetic Position of Alarconia Glassell, 1938
The genus Alarconia is a poorly studied group of pinnotherids, with almost nothing known about its relationship to other groups and ecology. The present study used molecular data to reconstruct a phylogenetic hypothesis to understand the position of the genus within Pinnotheridae and to clarify its taxonomic status. Alarconia was recovered as the sister group of all pinnotherids and is thus included in the monotypic subfamily Alarconiinae stat. nov. Additionally, the position of Alarconia within pinnotherid phylogeny leads to suspicions regarding its host association, which is still unknown. Thus, this study highlights the importance of using molecular data for phylogenetic analyses for a better understanding of systematics and biodiversity.
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