ALLOZYME SIMILARITY OF ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC SPECIES OF <i>LITTORINA</i> (GASTROPODA: LITTORINIDAE)

Abstract

Four Littorina species from the Pacific (L. sitkana, L. brevicula, L. mandshurica, L. squalida) and four from the Atlantic (L. mariae, L. obtusata, L. saxatilis and L. littorea) were compared electrophoretically using 17 loci. Analysis of genetic identities showed that there were three groups. The first group comprises L. sitkana, L. mariae, L. obtusata and L. saxatilis The second group consists of L. brevicula and L. mandshurica and the third one includes L. squalida and L. littorea. Our results support Reid's hypothesis of the origin of Atlantic littorines from two Pacific ancestors.