January, 2000 
SCAMIT Newsletter 
Vol. 18, No.9 
Thollesson (1999) examined the phylogenetic 
relations of dorid nudibranchs based on 
molecular evidence gleaned from a 400 Bp 
sequence of the 16S rRNA molecule. A 
notaspidean and a dendronotid were included 
in the analysis as outgroups along with 24 
dorid species. The attempt was inconclusive as 
regards the status of higher taxa of interest 
(especially the Eudoridoidea and 
Anadoridoidea). The sequence used apparently 
(based on internal transition/transversion 
evidence) was subject to multiple substitutions. 
The authors suggest this may have contributed 
to the inability to resolve higher level 
relationships, while providing useful 
information on low-level branching. It is likely 
that inclusion of additional taxa belonging to 
neither the Chromodorididae nor the 
Goniodorididae would strengthen analysis. We 
await a reanalysis based on a wider sampling 
of dorids, but the article provides useful 
information on relationships within the two 
families whose members formed the bulk of 
the analyzed taxa. 
In the last Newsletter the editor expressed his 
view that cosmopolitanism was not nearly as 
widespread among marine invertebrates as 
earlier believed. Support for this view is 
offered by Klatau et al (1999), who examine a 
“cosmopolitan” marine sponge Chondrilla 
nucula from a variety of locations in various 
parts of its reported range. Both traditional 
morphological (spicule based) and allozyme 
analyses were conducted. The authors found 
that there were probably five different cryptic 
sibling species being referred to as C. nucula in 
various areas. They extrapolate from their 
findings that many other invertebrates, 
particularly where species in a well-defined 
genus have few distinguishing characters, may 
offer analogous cases of sibling speciation. 
They also found that compared to the allozyme 
data, spicule size data was a poor predictor of 
species. They suggest that the relative merits of 
sponge spicule size measurements be critically 
reexamined. 
10 JANUARY MEETING 
The meeting started with president Ron Velarde 
mentioning the upcoming B’98 Re-ID conflict 
resolution meeting. It will be held at SCCWRP 
on Monday, January 24. Don Cadien then 
regaled us with stories of the SCAMIT 
Christmas party which sounded entertaining 
and successful. There was some discussion as 
to whether the party should be moved to a 
more southern location next year as many 
active members of SCAMIT (as well as two of 
the four officers) live in the San Diego region 
and find the party a bit far to attend most years. 
However, trying to find a location that would 
compare with the venue of the Cabrillo Marine 
Aquarium would be a challenge indeed. No 
decision was made at this time and the subject 
will probably be discussed again as Christmas 
2000 rolls around. Don Cadien then proceeded 
to give a B’98 status report. All agencies have 
received their allotted QC samples, but not 
everyone has completed these samples. 
Hopefully there will be some comparative 
material for the resolution meeting mentioned 
above. 
The SCAMIT Taxonomic Listing Edition 4 is 
looming on the horizon and Don is calling for 
any additions and/or changes to Edition 3. 
Uncirculated provisional SCAMIT species 
sheets need to be completed and sent to Don in 
time for attachment to the May Newsletter to 
qualify the species for inclusion in the next 
edition. A discussion ensued on exactly how 
an in-house lab provisional species becomes a 
SCAMIT provisional. The rule is that the 
provisional species sheet (in SCAMIT format) 
has to be distributed and made available to the 
membership. There was some discussion as to 
the definition of “distributed”. Those present 
decided that “distributed” is defined as being 
attached to a SCAMIT Newsletter (both paper 
and electronic versions). The sheet can also be 
posted on the web-site as a taxonomic tool, 
handed out at meetings and/or mailed, but, at a 
minimum, it must be distributed as an 
attachment to a SCAMIT newsletter. 
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