Molecular phylogeny of three subfamilies of the Neanuridae (Insecta, Collembola) and the position of the antarctic species Friesea grisea Schäffer.

The nuclear 28S rRNA and the mitochondrial COII gene were used to establish phylogenetic relationships among species of the family Neanuridae, with special emphasis on species of the subfamily Neanurinae. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted using genetic distances, parsimony and likelihood methods. The D3-D5 fragment of the rRNA gene was very conserved, both in sequence and in secondary structure features. This fragment supplied little information on relationships at this level. The phylogenetic reconstruction based on 1st and 2nd codon positions of the COII gene was partly in accordance with morphological data, but it was discordant for the placement of some species. Relationships among the subfamilies Frieseinae, represented by the Antarctic species Friesea grisea, Pseudachorutinae and Neanurinae were uncertain. The subfamily Neanurinae and its tribes Neanurini and Paleonurini were shown as monophyletic taxa. Relationships between three species of the genus Bilobella were in accordance with morphological and biochemical data. Relationships between genera within the Neanurini were more controversial. In accordance with morphological hypotheses, a basal position of Thaumanura was suggested, but the molecular data placed Neanura muscorum in a derived position, in sharp contrast with morphological evidence. A close relationship was suggested between Deutonura conjuncta, Cansilianura malatestai and Lathriopyga longiseta. The disagreement between molecular and morphological data suggests that one or both data sets might be affected by a certain degree of homoplasy and that these data should be interpreted with caution in phylogenetic reconstructions.