New freshwater mussel taxa discoveries clarify biogeographic division of Southeast Asia

Bolotov, Ivan N.; Konopleva, Ekaterina S.; Vikhrev, Ilya V.; Gofarov, Mikhail Yu.; Lopes-Lima, Manuel; Bogan, Arthur E.; Lunn, Zau; Chan, Nyein; Win, Than; Aksenova, Olga V.; Tomilova, Alena A.; Tanmuangpak, Kitti; Tumpeesuwan, Sakboworn; Kondakov, Alexander V.

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-63612-5

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Published: 20 April 2020

New freshwater mussel taxa discoveries clarify biogeographic division of Southeast Asia

Scientific Reports volume 10, Article number: 6616 (2020) Cite this article

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Abstract

While a growing body of modern phylogenetic research reveals that the Western Indochina represents a separate biogeographic subregion having a largely endemic freshwater fauna, the boundaries of this subregion are still unclear. We use freshwater mussels (Unionidae) as a model to reconstruct spatial patterns of freshwater biogeographic divides throughout Asia. Here, we present an updated freshwater biogeographic division of mainland Southeast Asia and describe 12 species and 4 genera of freshwater mussels new to science. We show that the Isthmus of Kra represents a significant southern biogeographic barrier between freshwater mussel faunas of the Western Indochina and Sundaland subregions, while the Indian and Western Indochina subregions are separated by the Naga Hills, Chin Hills, and Rakhine Yoma mountain ranges. Our findings highlight that the freshwater bivalve fauna of Southeast Asia primarily originated within three evolutionary hotspots (Western Indochina, Sundaland, and East Asian) supplemented by ancient immigrants from the Indian Subcontinent.

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Introduction

Freshwater mussels (Unionida) are an economically and environmentally important group of aquatic animals having a broad distribution on all continents except Antarctica^1,2. Southeast Asia houses one of the richest endemic faunas of freshwater mussels globally^3,4,5,6,7. Unfortunately, freshwater mussels are among the most endangered animal groups at the global scale, with numerous local extinctions triggered by multiple anthropogenic impacts and climate changes^8,9,10,11. Human-mediated degradation of natural habitats, e.g. water pollution, river damming, and irrigation practices, appears to be the most influential factor causing the decline and local extinctions of freshwater mussels^11,12,13. It was shown that even a prehistoric decline in freshwater mussels corresponds to the early development of agricultural techniques¹⁴. Alien species may represent a significant threat to native freshwater mussel assemblages in Southeast Asia¹³ and other regions¹⁵. For example, the tropical lineage of Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea, 1834) is widely spread throughout Malaysia, the Indonesian Archipelago, and the Philippines^16,17,18, while the temperate lineage of this taxon was found in Myanmar¹⁹.

Recent advances in mitogenomic²⁰ and multi-locus nuclear²¹ phylogenetic modeling reveal that two widespread Southeast Asian subfamilies of the Unionidae, i.e. Pseudodontinae²² and Rectidentinae^22,23, represent tribes within the monophyletic Gonideinae. The genus- and species-level taxonomy of freshwater mussels in Southeast Asia is still poorly known³, but several integrative studies performed in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Malaysia have recently improved our knowledge about the diversity and biogeographic patterns in the region. These studies found that freshwater mussel faunas of Myanmar, from the Ayeyarwady to Salween and Dawei basins, could be considered as a separate and distinct freshwater biogeographic subregion from the Indian and Sundaland subregions^{4,5,6,7,22,24}. This subregion harbors a species-rich, largely endemic fauna of freshwater mussels, with one endemic tribe, Leoparreysiini Vikhrev, Bolotov & Kondakov, 2017^4,6. Broad-scale phylogenetic research revealed that the Unionidae fauna of Malaysia has 9 native species¹⁶, all of which are representatives of Sundaland genera^4,22.

Our knowledge of freshwater mussels from the Mekong Basin and coastal rivers of Thailand and Cambodia is also far from being complete. However, there have been recent advances in the research on the freshwater mussel diversity in this region. It is now known that the genus Contradens Haas, 1911 in Thailand contains at least three allopatric species, one of which is widespread throughout the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong, and Bang Pakong basins corresponding to the former Siam Paleo-River system²⁵. In contrast, two other species share restricted ranges in the northeastern part of the Khorat Plateau²⁵. Two monotypic genera from the Mekong Basin, i.e. Unionetta Haas, 1955 and Harmandia Rochebrune, 1881, were found to be members of the tribe Indochinellini Bolotov et al., 2018²⁶. It was revealed recently that Scabies Haas, 1911, another member of the Indochinellini, contains at least eight valid species from Thailand, while S. songkramensis Kongim & Panha, 2015 takes a distant phylogenetic position leading to non-monophyly of this genus in its current understanding^25,27. The genus Ensidens Frierson, 1911 in Thailand includes two large clades, one of which contains four species and corresponds to tributaries of the Middle Mekong drainage²⁸. The second clade comprises two species: one species primarily from the Siam Paleo-River system, and another species from the Lower Mekong and Bang Pakong River basins.

The present study aims to update the freshwater biogeographic divisions of mainland Southeast Asia using freshwater mussels (Unionidae) as a model group. Based on the results of a broad-scale field survey throughout Myanmar, Thailand, and northern Laos, we clarify the western and southern boundaries of the Western Indochina Subregion. During this extensive assessment, we discovered several novel genera and species of freshwater mussels that are described here to improve our current understanding of the Unionidae systematics in Southeast Asia. Finally, we show that the Isthmus of Kra is a significant biogeographic barrier separating freshwater mussel faunas of the Western Indochina and Sundaland subregions.

Results

New Unionidae genera and species from Southeast Asia

Our multi-locus phylogenies were constructed using BEAST v2.6.1, MrBayes v3.2.6 and IQ-TREE v1.6.11 based on the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI), small ribosomal RNA (16 S rRNA), and the nuclear large ribosomal RNA (28 S rRNA) gene fragments. These analyses returned well-resolved consensus phylogenies having a similar topology (Fig. 1 and Supplementary Fig. 1). We found that available freshwater mussel taxa from Southeast Asia cluster to at least 25 genera, four of which are new to science and are described here. The novel genera represent distant monotypic lineages (Scabiellus gen. nov. and Nyeinchanconcha gen. nov.) and well-supported clades with several species (Sundadontina gen. nov. and Thaiconcha gen. nov.). An integrative species delimitation analysis indicates that our dataset contains 12 species that do not have available names and can be considered new to science (Figs. 1–5, Tables 1–3, Supplementary Tables 1–2). Each novel species can be distinguished from its sister taxa by conchological and molecular characters. A description of each new species is presented below. Mean shell parameters for the type series of new species are presented in Table 1. Two more unnamed species-level lineages, i.e. Ensidens sp. ‘Mun’ and Ensidens sp. ‘Thai’ (Fig. 1), appear to represent cryptic species and require separate research.

Table 1 Mean shell parameters (mm) for the type series of new freshwater mussel species (Unionidae) from Southeast Asia.

Full size table

Table 2 Molecular diagnoses of the new freshwater mussel species (Unionidae) from Southeast Asia.

Full size table

Table 3 Taxonomic review of freshwater mussel genera under discussion within the boundaries of Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the Lower Mekong in Vietnam).

Full size table

New freshwater mussel species distribution and their biogeographic affinities in Southeast Asia

Here, we examined freshwater mussels from several poorly known, remote basins such as the rivers of the Rakhine Coast (western Myanmar), the Tanintharyi (former Tenasserim) River, and the Lenya River (southeastern Myanmar) (Fig. 5A). We found that the rivers of the Rakhine Coast are inhabited by one species, Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov. This is the first record of a Parreysiini member in Myanmar. The fauna of the Tanintharyi Basin includes several species belonging to endemic genera of the Western Indochina Subregion, i.e. Trapezidens scutum and Leoparreysia tavoyensis. In contrast, Trapezoideus lenya sp. nov., Monodontina lenyanensis sp. nov., and Sundadontina tanintharyiensis sp. nov. were discovered from the Lenya River basin, which is located just south of the Tanintharyi Basin (Fig. 5B). These species are members of the genera widely distributed throughout the Sundaland Subregion.

Evolutionary biogeography and time-calibrated phylogeny

Our statistical biogeographic analyses (the combined results of S-DIVA and Bayesian MCMC runs) and time-calibrated Bayesian phylogeny reveal the high levels of endemism of freshwater mussel fauna within each subregion (Fig. 1 and Supplementary Table 3). The fauna of the Sundaland Subregion contains several endemic radiations of freshwater mussels belonging to two subfamilies, i.e. the subtribe Pilsbryoconchina, the tribe Rectidentini, the genera Trapezoideus, Physunio, Contradens (Gonideinae), and the so-called Mekong’s Indochinellini group (Harmandia, Scabies, Scabiellus gen. nov., and Unionetta) (Parreysiinae). The subtribe Pseudodontina, the genus Yaukthwa (Gonideinae), tribe Leoparreysiini, the genera Radiatula, Indochinella, and Trapezidens (Parreysiinae) are endemic clades to the Western Indochina Subregion. The fauna of the Indian Subregion contains the endemic clade Parreysiini, and shares some genus-level subclades with the Western Indochina, i.e. Indonaia, Lamellidens, and, most probably, Balwantia.

Our time-calibrated Bayesian phylogenetic model reveals that there were several splits between the Western Indochinese and Sundaland clades (Fig. 1). The oldest split between such groups occurred between the subtribes Pseudodontina and Pilsbryoconchina in the Late Cretaceous (mean age = 79.3 Myr, 95% HPD = 63.2–96.8 Myr). The Pseudodontina most likely diversified in the Western Indochinese Region and the Pilsbryoconchina evolved in the Sundaland Subregion (probability = 97.8% and 98.7%, respectively) (Supplementary Table 3). The Rectidentini + Contradentini clade (the former subfamily Rectidentinae²¹) appears to have evolved within the Sundaland Subregion since the Late Cretaceous (probability = 98.4%; mean age = 95.6 Myr, 95% HPD = 76.8–115.0 Myr). A colonization event of the Yaukthwa + Balwantia clade to Western Indochina occurred in the Early Eocene (mean age = 45.6 Myr, 95% HPD = 35.8–55.1 Myr) followed by an intra-area radiation (probability = 95.8%). Conversely, the Indochinellini seems to be a primary Western Indochinese clade evolving in situ since the Late Cretaceous (probability = 75.0%; mean age = 70.4 Myr, 95% HPD = 56.1–87.0 Myr). Divergence of Mekong’s Indochinellini clade from Western Indochinese Radiatula placed in the Late Eocene (probability = 50.9%; mean age = 38.6 Myr, 95% HPD = 30.1–47.5 Myr). After the vicariance event separating these taxa, each group diversified in isolation within a corresponding subregion (probability = 95–100%). Our analyses indicate that the Parreysiini clade is a group evolved within the Indian Subregion (probability = 95.2%), whereas the Leoparreysiini diversified within the Western Indochina (probability = 99.6%). The Indian and Indochinese Indonaia species groups most likely diverged in the mid-Miocene (mean age = 14.6 Myr, 95% HPD = 9.4–21.3 Myr) via a dispersal event from Western Indochina to India but with a rather low probability (47.0%).

Three novel species from the Lenya Basin have sister taxa in the Mekong River and smaller basins emptying into the Gulf of Thailand. These species likely separated by a series of splits occurred from the Oligocene – Miocene boundary to the Late Miocene as follows: (1) Monodontina lenyanensis sp. nov. vs M. mekongi sp. nov. + M. vondembuschiana + M. laosica sp. nov. + M. cambodjensis (mean age = 24.5 Myr, 95% HPD = 16.7–32.6 Myr); (2) Trapezoideus lenya sp. nov. vs T. foliaceus (mean age = 12.1 Myr, 95% HPD = 5.3–19.7 Myr); and (3) Sundadontina tanintharyiensis sp. nov. vs S. cumingii (mean age = 6.2 Myr, 95% HPD = 2.3–10.8 Myr). The split between Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov. from western Myanmar and several species from India occurred in the Late Miocene (mean age = 5.5 Myr, 95% HPD = 2.9–8.1 Myr).

Taxonomic account. Family Unionidae Rafinesque, 1820

Subfamily Parreysiinae Henderson, 1935

Tribe Parreysiini Henderson, 1935

Type genus: Parreysia Conrad, 1853 (by original designation)

Comments: A monotypic Indian tribe⁴.

Distribution: Indian Subregion from the Indus Basin²⁹ to the coastal basins of the Rakhine State of Myanmar.

Genus Parreysia Conrad, 1853

Type species: Unio multidentatus Philippi, 1847 (by original designation)

Comments: A diverse Indian genus, in which the modern systematics and number of species are still uncertain, due to the lack of available molecular data. Several species from Western Indochina originally assigned to Parreysia were recently transferred to another genus, Leoparreysia Vikhrev, Bolotov & Aksenova, 2017, belonging to the tribe Leoparreysiini Vikhrev, Bolotov & Kondakov, 2017⁴. Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov. is the first member of the true Parreysiini discovered in Myanmar (Table 3).

Distribution: As for the tribe.

Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov

Figures 2A,B, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0652_1, MYANMAR: Kyeintali Stream upstream of Ohtein village, 17.9193°N, 94.5946°E, 04.xii.2018, Bogan, Bolotov, Vikhrev, Lopes-Lima, Nyein Chan and local villagers leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275091 (COI), MN307275 (16 S rRNA), and MN307218 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: shell length (SL) 58.7 mm, shell height (SH) 33.7 mm, and shell width (SW) 19.6 mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 4 specimens (RMBH biv0652_2, biv0652_3, biv0652_4, biv0652_6), Sa Lu Stream, 18.1631°N, 94.4997°E, 04.xii.2018, 5 specimens (RMBH biv0653_1, biv0653_2, biv0653_3, biv0654_1, biv0654_2) and 24 specimens (NCSM 113365), Thandwe River near Ywar Shai village, 18.3741°N, 94.4952°E, 04.xii.2018, 4 specimens (RMBH biv0655_1, biv0655_2, biv0655_3, biv0656), Shwehle Stream, 18.6174°N, 94.3508°E, 05.xii.2018, 3 specimens (RMBH biv0657_1, biv0657_2, biv0657_3) and 22 specimens (NCSM 113366), Toungup River, 18.8439°N, 94.3447°E, 06.xii.2018, 3 specimens (RMBH biv0658_1, biv0658_2, biv0658_3) and 13 specimens (NCSM 113367), Ann River near Ann town, 19.8026°N, 94.0449°E, 07.xii.2018, 3 specimens (RMBH biv0659_1, biv0659_2, biv0659_3), tributary of the Ann River, 19.8035°N, 94.0460°E, 07.xii.2018, 3 specimens (RMBH biv0660_1, biv0660_2, biv0660_3) and 10 specimens (NCSM 113360), Bogan, Bolotov, Vikhrev, Lopes-Lima, Nyein Chan and local villagers leg.

Etymology: The new species name is derived from the Rakhine State of Myanmar, in which it is widely distributed.

Diagnosis: The new species is conchologically and genetically close to a group of Parreysia species from India with affinity to several nominal taxa such as P. corrugata and P. favidens. Its shell varies from ovate-rounded to ovate-elongated, rather thick, umbo slightly elevated, pseudocardinal teeth massive and usually indented, lateral teeth curved and strong, muscle attachment scars deep. The new species differs from all the congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI gene fragment, while other genes from Indian Parreysia taxa are not available (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel: SL 29.3–62.3 mm, SH 18.5–41.7 mm, SW 10.3–24.2 mm. Shell shape variable, from ovate and strongly inflated to ovate-elongated and sub-compressed; inequilateral, rather solid. Umbo usually slightly elevated but may be much more developed at some specimens, with v-shaped sculpture visible only in small mussels due to strong erosion in old mussels. Periostracum from olive-green to brown. Nacre whitish, with bright peach or orange spot near the umbo cavity area, shining. Right valve with one curved lateral tooth and two pseudocardinal teeth, anterior tooth small and somewhat lamellar, posterior tooth massive, very indented. Left valve with two curved lateral teeth and two strongly indented pseudocardinal teeth, the anterior tooth usually higher than the posterior tooth. Anterior adductor scar ovate and deep, posterior adductor scar rounded and well-visible.

Distribution: Rivers and streams of the Rakhine Coast of Myanmar emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Tribe Indochinellini Bolotov, Pfeiffer, Vikhrev & Konopleva, 2018

Type genus: Indochinella Bolotov, Pfeiffer, Vikhrev & Konopleva, 2018 (by original designation)

Comments: A large Oriental tribe, which contains seven genera: Harmandia Rochebrune, 1882, Indochinella Bolotov, Pfeiffer, Vikhrev & Konopleva, 2018, Indonaia Prashad, 1918, Radiatula Simpson, 1900, Scabies Haas, 1911, Scabiellus gen. nov., and Unionetta Haas, 1955^5,26,27.

Distribution: This group is widespread throughout the Indian, Western Indochina and Sundaland subregions^5,26,27.

Genus Scabiellus gen. nov

Figure 2G Type species: Scabies songkramensis Kongim & Panha, 2015.

Comments: Monotypic genus (Table 3) representing a distinct phylogenetic lineage that is not sister to the other members of Scabies, including its type species, S. scobinatus (Lea, 1856) (Fig. 1). Although Scabiellus gen. nov. is conchologically similar to Scabies and several taxa of Indochinella by having a v-shaped shell sculpture³⁰, this external similarity appears to be only a result of convergence.

Diagnosis: Small mussels, shell length up to 33 mm. Shell thick, rather short, сuneiform, with a broad and elevated umbo, broad anterior margin and narrower posterior margin. Periostracum brown. Dark brown v-shaped sculpture covers the entire shell disc.

Etymology: The name of this genus derived from the genus Scabies, in which its type species was described initially.

Distribution: Scabiellus songkramensis gen. & comb. nov. is recorded from rivers of the Khorat Plateau in Thailand, i.e. the Songkhram and Kam river basins, and the corresponding section of the Mekong River^26,27,30.

Subfamily Gonideinae Ortmann, 1916

Comments: Here we use this subfamily in a broader sense, with the former subfamilies Pseudodontinae²² and Rectidentinae^22,23 being tribes within the monophyletic Gonideinae, as suggested based on the mitogenomic²⁰ and multi-locus nuclear²¹ phylogenies.

Tribe Contradentini Modell, 1942

Type genus: Contradens Haas, 1911 (by original designation)

Comments: This tribe includes six valid genera: Balwantia Prashad, 1919, Contradens Haas, 1911, Trapezoideus Simpson 1900, Physunio Simpson, 1900, Solenaia Conrad, 1869, and Yaukthwa Konopleva et al., 2019^7,21.

Distribution: Northeastern India (Brahmaputra Basin) and Southeast Asia, including the Greater Sunda Islands^2,3,7,29,31.

Genus Balwantia Prashad, 1919 stat. rev

Type species: Anodonta soleniformis Benson, 1836 (by original designation)

Comments: This genus contains ultra-elongated mussels externally resembling members of Solenaia³² (Fig. 2D) but is distantly related to Yaukthwa phylogenetically (Fig. 1). Previously, it was considered a synonym of Solenaia²⁹ and was not used as a valid genus name since the last monograph of Haas³³. Two species were recorded from Myanmar, one of which is new to science and described here (Table 3). They were collected from deep burrows which they dig in hard clay and soft sandstone substrate as does Balwantia soleniformis, their putative Indian relative from the upper Brahmaputra River^34,35.

Distribution: Ayeyarwady and upper Brahmaputra basins^29,32,34.

Balwantia baniensis sp. nov

Figure 2C, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0666_2, MYANMAR: Bani River near Bangong village, 19.3247°N, 94.9839°E, Ayeyarwady Basin, 09.xii.2018, Bogan, Bolotov, Vikhrev, Lopes-Lima, Nyein Chan and local villagers leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275077 (COI), MN307264 (16 S rRNA), and MN307206 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 57.0 mm, SH 23.2 mm, and SW 15.3 mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 4 specimens (RMBH biv0666_1, biv0666_3, biv0666_4, and biv0666_5), 9 specimens (NCSM 113369).

Etymology: The new species name is dedicated to Bani River, a tributary of the Ayeyarwady River, in which it was collected.

Diagnosis: The new species can be distinguished from Balwantia elongatula comb. nov. by having a rostrate anterior margin (vs. rounded), a more inflated shell (vs. flattened), and by the presence of bars from umbo along the dorsal margin. The new species also differs from Balwantia elongatula comb. nov. by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI, 16 S rRNA and 28 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel: SL 46.1–61.4 mm, SH 19.5–26.3 mm, SW 12.7–16.7 mm. Shell somewhat trapezoidal, elongated, not very inequilateral, thin, and rather inflated, narrow and rostrate anteriorly, broad and truncated posteriorly, ventral margin slightly curved. Posterior slope covered by elongated, slightly curved bars. Umbo eroded, slightly elevated, without clear sculpture. Periostracum olive-yellow or brownish, the central part of the shell usually lighter than the posterior side. Nacre blue-whitish, sometimes with yellow spots, shining. Lateral teeth very thin, almost straight, by one on each valve. Pseudocardinal teeth reduced. Anterior adductor scars somewhat ovate or drop-like, not deep. Posterior adductor scars ovate or rounded shape, shallow.

Distribution: Bani River, Ayeyarwady Basin, central Myanmar.

Genus Trapezoideus Simpson, 1900

Type species: Unio foliaceus Gould, 1843 (by original designation)

Comments: Small genus with a restricted range that was previously considered a monotypic entity⁷. However, we found one additional congeneric species (Table 3), which is described here.

Distribution: Southern Myanmar (Lenya and Dawei basins) and southwestern Thailand (Mae Klong Basin)⁷.

Trapezoideus lenya sp. nov

Figures 2E, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0629_2, MYANMAR: 14 Mile Stream, 11.3508°N, 99.1093°E, Lenya River basin, 24.xi.2018, Bogan, Bolotov, Vikhrev, Lopes-Lima, Nyein Chan and local villagers leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275068 (COI), MN307257 (16 S rRNA), and MN307198 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 36.3 mm, SH 21.4 mm, and SW 11.3 mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 3 specimens (RMBH biv0629_1, biv0629_3, and biv0629_5), 3 specimens (NCSM 113368).

Etymology: The name of new species is derived from the Lenya River, a coastal freshwater basin in southern Myanmar, from which this species was collected.

Diagnosis: The new species is morphologically similar to Trapezoideus foliaceus but differs in shell shape, being higher posteriorly and narrower anteriorly, with a straight ventral margin. The new species also differs from its congener by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Small mussel: SL 33.1–36.3 mm, SH 19.1–21.4 mm, SW 10.2–11.3 mm. Shell rounded, somewhat trapezoidal, inequilateral, rather thin and compressed, anterior margin rounded and narrow, posterior margin broad and somewhat truncated, dorsal margin high with minute bars extended from the umbo, ventral margin straight. Umbo small, slightly projected, eroded. Periostracum olive-brown. Nacre bluish gray. Pseudocardinal teeth thin and lamellar, two teeth in right valve and one tooth in left valve. Lateral teeth slender, elongated, slightly curved, one in right valve and two in left valve. Anterior adductor scar somewhat drop-like, shallow, posterior adductor scar almost reduced.

Distribution: Lenya River basin, southern Myanmar.

Genus Yaukthwa Konopleva et al . , 2019

Type species: Trapezoideus nesemanni Konopleva, Vikhrev & Bolotov, 2017 (by original designation)

Comments: A large genus with at least eight species⁷, including a species newly described here (Table 3).

Distribution: Endemic to the Western Indochina Subregion⁷.

Yaukthwa avaensis sp. nov

Figure 2F, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0680_3, MYANMAR: Tarkat Stream, 25.2758°N, 97.2722°E, tributary of the Ayeyarwady River, 23.iii.2018, Nyein Chan leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275071 (COI), MN307259 (16 S rRNA), and MN307200 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 38.3 mm, SH 20.8 mm, and SW 14.1 mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collector, 9 specimens (RMBH biv0680_1, biv0680_5, biv0680_2, biv0680_4, biv0680_6, biv0680_7, biv0680_8, biv0680_9, and biv0680_10).

Etymology: The name of the new species is derived from the ancient Ava Kingdom in central Myanmar.

Diagnosis: The new species can be distinguished from its sister species Yaukthwa paiensis by having a more curved ventral margin and stronger inflation of the shell. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI gene fragment (Table 2).

Description: Small mussel: SL 24.7–46.6 mm, SH 14.1–25.1 mm, SW 8.7–17.0 mm. Shell subtrapezoidal, inequilateral, moderately thick and rather inflated. Anterior margin rounded, dorsal margin elevated posteriorly, ventral outline slightly curved, posterior slope truncated and usually covered by small striae. Umbo slightly elevated and strongly eroded at some specimens. Periostracum from light to dark brown. Nacre bluish, with yellow spots. Pseudocardinal teeth thin, lamellar, one tooth in the left valve and two teeth in the right valve. Lateral teeth elongated, slightly curved, one in the right valve and two in the left valve. Adductor muscle scars shallow.

Distribution: Middle section of the Ayeyarwady River, central Myanmar.

Tribe Pseudodontini Frierson, 1927

Type genus: Pseudodon Gould, 1844 (by original designation)

Comments: This tribe includes seven valid genera: Bineurus Simpson, 1900, Monodontina Conrad, 1853, Nyeinchanconcha gen. nov., Pilsbryoconcha Simpson, 1900, Sundadontina gen. nov., Thaiconcha gen. nov. (subtribe Pilsbryoconchina Bolotov, Vikhrev & Tumpeesuwan, 2017), and Pseudodon Gould, 1844 (subtribe Pseudodontina s. str.).

Distribution: Southeast Asia from the Ayeyarwady River to the Mekong Basin, Malaysia and the Greater Sunda Islands^2,3,4,22,31.

Subtribe Pilsbryoconchina Bolotov, Vikhrev & Tumpeesuwan, 2017

Type genus: Pilsbryoconcha Simpson, 1900 (by original designation)

Genus Monodontina Conrad, 1853

=Suborbiculus Simpson, 1900

Type species: Margaritana vondembuschiana Lea, 1840 (by original designation)

Comments: This genus contains seven species (Table 3), three of which are new to science and described here.

Distribution: Sundaland Subregion (Lenya Basin in Myanmar, Mekong Basin, Malaysia, and the Greater Sunda Islands)⁴.

Monodontina laosica sp. nov

Figure 3C, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: UMMZ 304650, LAOS: ca. 300 m upstream of the mouth of Houai Pin Stream, 14.7944°N, 106.4842°E, a tributary of the Vang Ngao River, Mekong Basin, 21.v.2009, Kottelat et al. leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: KP795029 (COI) and KP795052 (16 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 61.4 mm, SH 41.4 mm, and SW 19.0 mm.

Etymology: The name of the new species is derived from the country of Laos, in which it was recorded.

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from its sister taxa by having a higher dorsal margin and reduced pseudocardinal teeth. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel. Shell ovate, inequilateral, rather inflated, with high dorsal margin, creating a wing, rounded anteriorly, truncated posteriorly, ventral margin curved. Umbo not prominent, eroded. Periostracum brownish with yellow and rusty sites. Nacre blue-whitish with cream tint near the umbo. Pseudocardinal teeth weak. Both muscle scars shallow.

Distribution: Vang Ngao River, Mekong Basin, southern Laos.

Monodontina lenyanensis sp. nov

Figures 3D, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0628_2, MYANMAR: 14 Mile Stream, 11.3508°N, 99.1092°E, Lenya River basin, 24.xi.2018, Bogan, Bolotov, Vikhrev, Lopes-Lima, Nyein Chan and local villagers leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275055 (COI), MN307246 (16 S rRNA), and MN307187 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 63.4 mm, SH 40.1 mm, and SW 23.7 mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 9 specimens (RMBH biv0628_1, biv0628_3, biv0628_4, biv0628_5, biv0628_6, biv0628_7, biv0628_8, biv0628_9, and biv0628_10), 9 specimens (NCSM 104012).

Etymology: This new species is dedicated to the Lenya River, its type locality.

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from its sister taxa by presenting an ovate, elongated, rather solid and inflated shell, not elevated umbo, tubercular or pyramidal pseudocardinal teeth, and rather reduced muscle scars. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel: SL 31.2–63.4 mm, SH 20.3–40.1 mm, SW 11.0–23.7 mm. Shell ovate, elongated, inequilateral, rather solid and inflated, rounded anteriorly, broad and truncated posteriorly, dorsal margin high, ventral margin slightly curved. Umbo small, slightly elevated, eroded. Periostracum rusty-brown, smooth. Nacre white-yellowish. One pseudocardinal tooth in each valve, which is tubercular-like or more pyramidal and sharper, rather high and strong, smooth or slightly ribbed. Lateral teeth reduced. Anterior adductor scar ovate, rather prominent; posterior adductor scar reduced, weakly developed.

Distribution: Lenya River basin, southern Myanmar.

Monodontina mekongi sp. nov

Figures 3E, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0122, THAILAND: clay bottom, headwaters of the Phong River, 16.8616°N, 101.9105°E, Mekong Basin, Loei Province, 09.iv.2014, Bolotov, Vikhrev, Spitsyn and Gofarov leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: KX865861 (COI), KX865632 (16 S rRNA), and KX865733 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 65.7 mm, SH 42.2 mm, and SW 20.3 mm.

Etymology: The name of this species is derived from the Greater Mekong Basin, its type locality.

Diagnosis: This species is conchologically and genetically related with Monodontina vondembuschiana and M. laosica sp. nov. but it can be distinguished from these species by presenting an uninflated, weak pseudocardinal teeth (vs. stouter), and a curved and lower dorsal margin (vs. strait and higher). The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI, 16 S rRNA and 28 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel. Shell obovate, slightly higher posteriorly, inequilateral, thin, semitransparent, not inflated; anterior margin rounded, posterior margin angulate, ventral margin curved. Umbo slightly elevated, eroded, without clear sculpture. Periostracum olive yellow. Nacre whitish. Pseudocardinal teeth weak, flatten, more developed in the right valve than in the left one. Both muscle scars shallow, anterior scar irregular; posterior scar somewhat drop-like, almost invisible.

Distribution: Phong River, Mekong Basin, northern Thailand.

Genus Nyeinchanconcha gen. nov

Type species: Nyeinchanconcha nyeinchani gen. & sp. nov.

Comments: Remarkable monotypic genus (Table 3).

Diagnosis: Shell elliptical, resembling that of the genus Lamellidens Simpson, 1900 (Parreysiinae: Lamellidentini), slightly elevated posteriorly, moderately thick and inflated, umbo not elevated, pseudocardinal teeth strong and somewhat pyramidal in each valve; anterior adductor scar drop-like, developed, usually contiguous with pedal retractor scar; the posterior muscle scar shallow.

Etymology: This genus is dedicated to our friend Mr. Nyein Chan, an enthusiastic conservation biologist from FFI – Myanmar Program, Yangon, Myanmar, for his valuable contribution to the conservation of freshwater ecosystems in Southeast Asia. This genus name means “Shell of Nyein Chan” (“concha” being shell in Latin).

Distribution: Mekong Basin in Laos.

Nyeinchanconcha nyeinchani gen. & sp. nov

Figure 3F, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: NCSM 84884, LAOS: small stream arising at a cave near Ban Kouanphavang, 17.4578°N, 104.9263°E, Nam Done River drainage, Mekong Basin, Khammouane Province, 17.v.2012, M. Kottelat et al. leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: KX822662 (COI) and KX822618 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 50.9 mm, SH 27.8 mm, and SW 15.6 mm.

Paratypes: LAOS: type locality, same date, and collectors, 1 specimen (NCSM 113351); Nam Phiat River near Phon Bong village, 18.0839°N, 104.9781°E, ca. 2 km from confluence with the Namkading River, Mekong Basin, Bolikhamsai Province, 12.v.2009, 1 specimen (UMMZ 304648), M. Kottelat et al. leg.

Etymology: This species is dedicated to our friend Mr. Nyein Chan, a conservation biologist from FFI – Myanmar Program, Yangon, Myanmar.

Diagnosis: The species is morphologically and genetically more similar to Sundadontina brandti sp. nov. but differs from it by a more elliptical shell without marked elevation of the dorsal margin, and by pyramidal and weaker pseudocardinal teeth. The new species also differs from other Pseudodontini taxa by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel: SL 33.7–59.9 mm, SH 15.1–37.0 mm, SW 7.9–15.6 mm. Shell elliptical, inequilateral, rounded anteriorly, truncated posteriorly, dorsal margin elevated, ventral margin slightly curved. Umbo not prominent, eroded. Periostracum dark brown. Nacre whitish with cream tint near the umbo. Pseudocardinal teeth somewhat pyramidal, stout. Anterior adductor scar pronounced; posterior adductor scar weak.

Distribution: Nam Done and Nam Phiat rivers, Mekong Basin, Laos.

Genus Sundadontina gen. nov

Type species: Anodonta cumingii Lea, 1850.

Comments: This genus contains at least 10 species, three of which are new to science and described here (Table 3).

Diagnosis: Shell ovate or elongate-ovate, rather thick and strong, umbo not projected, pseudocardinal teeth stout and tubercular-like; anterior muscle scar ovate and well-developed, usually contiguous with pedal retractor scar; the posterior muscle scar shallow.

Etymology: The name of this genus is derived from that of the genus Monodontina, but with another prefix highlighting its broad distribution across the ancient Sundaland.

Distribution: Sundaland Subregion: Lenya Basin in Myanmar, Mekong Basin in Thailand, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam, Chao Phraya Basin in Thailand, Malaysia.

Sundadontina brandti sp. nov

Figures 4B, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0475_2, THAILAND: headwater of the Mun River, 14.4138°N, 102.0821°E, Mekong Basin, Khorat Plateau, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, 12.iii.2018, Bolotov, Vikhrev, and local villagers leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275058 (COI), MN307249 (16 S rRNA), and MN307190 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 85.4 mm, SH 53.7 mm, and SW 27.7 mm.

Paratypes: THAILAND: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 2 specimens (RMBH biv0475_3, biv0475_4).

Etymology: This species is named in the memory of Dr. Rolf Arthur Max Brandt (1917–1989), one of the most influential freshwater malacologists of the last century. This prominent scientist worked in Southeast Asia on freshwater mollusks and authored the freshwater mollusks of Thailand³¹.

Diagnosis: The species is similar to Sundadontina taskaevi sp. nov. but can be distinguished from it by having a more slender and higher pseudocardinal tooth on the right valve. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Large mussel: SL 71.3–85.4 mm, SH 43.8–53.7 mm, SW 24.1–27.7 mm. Shell ovate, very inequilateral, solid, not very inflated, rounded anteriorly, truncated posteriorly, dorsal margin curved, ventral margin slightly rounded. Periostracum brownish-black. Nacre creamy. Umbo very small, not developed, eroded. Left valve with one tubercle-like pseudocardinal tooth, right valve with one rectangular and high pseudocardinal tooth. Anterior muscle scar rather well-developed, ovate; posterior muscle scar slightly visible.

Distribution: Mun Basin, Thailand.

Sundadontina tanintharyiensis sp. nov

Figure 4C, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0643_4, MYANMAR: Chaung Nauk Pyan Stream, 11.7620°N, 99.1124°E, Lenya River basin, 16.vi.2018, Nyein Chan leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275057 (COI), MN307248 (16 S rRNA), and MN307189 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 57.1 mm, SH 40.8 mm, and SW mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 2 specimens (RMBH biv0643_1, biv0643_6) and 3 specimens (NCSM 113364).

Etymology: The new species name is derived from the Tanintharyi Region of Myanmar, in which its type locality is situated.

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to Sundadontina cumingii gen. & comb. nov. but can be distinguished from it by having a more rounded and inflated shell. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Medium-sized mussel: SL 39.2–61.2 mm, SH 27.2–45.1 mm, SW 14.7–23.2 mm. Shell ovate or slightly elongated, inequilateral, moderately solid and rather inflated. Anterior margin rounded, dorsal and ventral margin curved, posterior margin subangular. Umbo not elevated, eroded. Periostracum rusty-brown, smooth. Nacre yellowish white. Each valve with one tubercle-like, smooth pseudocardinal tooth. Lateral teeth reduced. Anterior muscle scar ovate or drop-like, rather prominent; posterior muscle scar drop-like and very shallow.

Distribution: Lenya River basin, southern Myanmar.

Sundadontina taskaevi sp. nov

Figures 4D, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0475_1, THAILAND: headwater of the Mun River, 14.4138°N, 102.0821°E, Mekong Basin, Khorat Plateau, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, 12.iii.2018, Bolotov and Vikhrev leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275061 (COI), MN307251 (16 S rRNA), and MN307192 (28 S rRNA). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 82.7 mm, SH 52.2 mm, and SW 29.3 mm.

Paratypes: THAILAND: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 1 specimen (RMBH biv0475_5).

Etymology: This species is named in memory of the late Dr. Anatoly Ivanovich Taskaev (1944–2010), a well-known Russian biologist.

Diagnosis: The new species is similar to Sundadontina brandti sp. nov. but can be distinguished from it by having broader, stronger, tubercle-like pseudocardinal teeth. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI and 16 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Large mussel: SL 60.0–82.7 mm, SH 42.8–52.2 mm, SW 22.6–29.3 mm. Shell elongate-ovate, inequilateral, rather solid and inflated, rounded anteriorly, dorsal margin convex, ventral margin slightly curved. Periostracum blackish, with brown lines. Nacre creamy. Umbo slightly elevated, eroded. Each valve with one tubercle-like, smooth pseudocardinal tooth. The tooth in right valve more developed, rather trapezoidal, with broader base. Anterior muscle scar ovate, rather well-developed; posterior muscle scar shallow.

Distribution: Mun River, Thailand.

Genus Thaiconcha gen. nov

Type species: Anodonta callifera Martens, 1860.

Comments: This genus contains at least two valid species (Table 3).

Diagnosis: Shell large, thick, elliptical or rounded, moderately inflated. Pseudocardinal teeth rather well developed, muscle attachment scars deep.

Etymology: The name of this genus means “a shell from Thailand”.

Distribution: Mekong Basin in Thailand and Cambodia.

Subtribe Pseudodontina Frierson, 1927

Type genus: Pseudodon Gould, 1844 (by original designation)

Genus Pseudodon Gould, 1844

Type species: Anodon inoscularis Gould, 1844 (by original designation)

Comments: This genus contains eight species, one of which is new to science and described here (Table 3).

Distribution: Endemic clade to the Western Indochina Subregion⁴.

Pseudodon kayinensis sp. nov

Figure 3G, 5A, Tables 1–2, Supplementary Table 2

Holotype: RMBH biv0618_1, MYANMAR: Winyaw River, 15.6685°N, 97.9496°E, Ataran River basin, 20.xi.2018, Vikhrev, Bogan, Lopes-Lima, and local villagers leg. Reference sequence numbers of the holotype are as follows: MN275043 (COI). Shell measurements of the holotype are as follows: SL 59.6 mm, SH 34.9 mm, and SW 17.7 mm.

Paratypes: MYANMAR: type locality, same collecting date, and collectors, 4 specimens (RMBH biv0618_2, biv0618_3, biv0618_4, biv0618_5) and 4 specimens (NCSM 104014); Ko Du Kwe Stream, 15.6132°N, 98.2363°E, Zami River, Ataran River basin, 26.ii.2018, 5 specimens (RMBH biv0637_1, biv0637_2, biv0637_3, biv0637_4, biv0637_5) and 5 specimens (NCSM 113362), Than Win leg.; unnamed stream, 17.0292°N, 97.8100°E, Hlaingbwe River basin, 17.xi.2018, 3 specimens (RMBH biv0638_1, biv0638_2, biv0638_3) and 5 specimens (NCSM 104015), Than Win leg.

Etymology: The name of new species is derived from its distribution range, i.e. the Kayin State in Myanmar.

Diagnosis: The new species is conchologically more similar to Pseudodon bogani but can be distinguished from it by having a more curved dorsal margin and clearly ornamented posterior side. The new species also differs from its congeners by fixed nucleotide substitutions in the COI, 16 S rRNA and 28 S rRNA gene fragments (Table 2).

Description: Rather large mussel: SL 37.8–71.0 mm, SH 22.4–42.5 mm, SW 10.3–21.2 mm. Shell from ovate to elliptical, elongated, inequilateral, moderately inflated and thick. Anterior margin rounded, posterior margin somewhat truncated, dorsal margin curved and rather high, ventral margin straight or slightly curved. Umbo not elevated, eroded. Periostracum olive-brown to dark brown, the surface from umbo to posterior margin clearly ribbed, having curved bars covering the entire dorsal margin and then radiate along the posterior slope. Nacre whitish, sometimes with yellow sites. Pseudocardinal teeth high, tubercular-like, in each valve. Anterior adductor scar rather well developed, ovate; posterior adductor scar drop-like, more or less visible.

Distribution: Hlaingbwe and Ataran River basins in southern Myanmar.

Discussion

The Isthmus of Kra as a significant biogeographic barrier for the Unionidae

It was shown that freshwater basins of the Malacca Peninsula represent a part of the Sundaland Subregion^16,17 and that the Dawei and Tanintharyi river basins belong to the Western Indochina Subregion^4,5,7,24. However, the location of the southern boundary of the Western Indochina Subregion was until now unclear, because freshwater mussel faunas of the southern edge of Myanmar south of the Tanintharyi Basin were almost unknown. It was assumed that the Western Indochinese fauna could spread throughout the western coastal rivers of southern Thailand as far south as the Kangar-Pattani Line (7°N latitude along the Thai-Malay border)⁵ that corresponds to a putative ancient seaway^36,37. In this study, however, we found that freshwater mussel species inhabiting the Lenya River basin such as Trapezoideus lenya sp. nov., Monodontina lenyanensis sp. nov., and Sundadontina tanintharyiensis sp. nov. belong to the Sundaland fauna, and these species were separated from their sister taxa inhabiting the Mekong River and smaller basins of the Gulf of Thailand drainage during the Miocene, with the last split occurring ca. 6 Myr ago. Based on these results, we can conclude that the boundary between freshwater mussel faunas of the Western Indochina and Sundaland subregions is located along the Tanintharyi – Lenya drainage divide just north of the Isthmus of Kra (Fig. 5B). While freshwater mussel faunas between the Lenya Basin and the Malay Peninsula are poorly known³¹, the fauna of Malaysia contains only typical Sundaland unionid taxa supporting our conclusion^3,16. There is an admixture of Sundaland's taxa, i.e. Trapezoideus foliaceus, in the Dawei River^7,24 that can reflect an ancient river capture.

This isthmus is a major biogeographic barrier corresponding to a putative ancient seaway^36,37 that influenced distribution ranges of a plethora of animal and plant taxa³⁸ and corresponds to the separation of the Oriental (Indo-Burmese) and Sundaland biotas³⁹. A growing body of phylogeographic and phylogenetic research indicates that this barrier is reflected through abrupt changes in bird⁴⁰, frog⁴¹, snake⁴², lizard⁴³, giant centipede⁴⁴ and spider⁴⁵ assemblages around the Isthmus of Kra area. However, such examples are still poorly known among freshwater animals. Tarebia granifera (Lamarck, 1816) (Thiaridae), a freshwater snail species, shares two distant species-level lineages probably diverged due to marine transgressions through the Isthmus of Kra approximately 5 Myr ago⁴⁶. The high level of genetic divergence between populations of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man, 1879) (Palaemonidae) clearly supports the existence of a hypothetical seaway north of the Isthmus of Kra³⁷. Specimens of the Blue Panchax killifish Aplocheilus panchax (Hamilton, 1822) (Aplocheilidae) collected just north of the Isthmus of Kra share clear mtDNA affinities to the Indian clade, while those from localities south of this isthmus represent a separate Sundaic clade⁴⁷. In summary, our novel findings agree with available data on other freshwater and terrestrial taxa revealing the presence of a significant biogeographic barrier at the Isthmus of Kra area. There are two more putative connections via lowlands and river valleys at the Krabi and Songkhla isthmuses (Fig. 5B). Freshwater mussel assemblages of these areas are still unknown, but they undoubtedly belong to the Sundaland fauna.

Eastern edge of the Indian Subregion

The biogeographic boundary between the Indian and Western Indochina freshwater subregions is located along the Naga Hills, Chin Hills, and Rakhine Yoma ranges separating rivers of the Rakhine Coast from the Ayeyarwady Basin. The eastern edge of the Indian Subregion covers the entire Rakhine Coast of Myanmar with numerous coastal freshwater basins. Freshwater animal species inhabiting this area have clear affinities to the Indian fauna, e.g. the sponge Corvospongilla ultima (Annandale, 1910), the polychaete worm Namalycastis indica (Southern, 1921), and the bivalves Novaculina gangetica Benson, 1830, Lamellidens marginalis (Lamarck, 1819)^48,49, and Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov. The freshwater fish fauna of the Rakhine Coast contains numerous local endemic species that are also related to the fauna of the Indian Subcontinent^50,51,52, being this area considered a regional hotspot of freshwater fish diversity⁵³. Our time-calibrated phylogeny indicates that Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov. has close affinities to Indian taxa, and the split between these lineages occurred ca. 5 Myr ago.

Insights into the genus-level taxonomy of the Southeast Asian Unionidae

Based on our comprehensive multi-locus phylogeny, we introduce four new genera and twelve new species of freshwater mussels from Southeast Asia. Scabiellus gen. nov. represents a remarkable example of convergent evolution of the shell patterns in freshwater bivalves as it is conchologically similar to members of two other genera of the tribe Indochinellini, i.e. Scabies and Indochinella. The range of this monotypic genus corresponds to the Khorat Plateau, a putative evolutionary hotspot at the Middle Mekong Basin, that presents high levels of endemism in freshwater animals, e.g. bivalves^26,27,28, fish⁵⁴, and softshell turtles^55,56. In summary, the Indochinellini contains three genera (Indochinella, Indonaia, and Radiatula) west of the Salween – Mekong drainage divide and four genera (Harmandia, Scabies, Scabiellus gen. nov., and Unionetta) to the east of the same boundary.

The tribe Pseudodontini shares one of the largest monophyletic radiations of freshwater mussels in Southeast Asia, with numerous genus- and species level clades^4,22 that were traditionally placed into two genera, Pseudodon and Pilsbryoconcha^29,31. Based on our multi-locus data set, we had previously resurrected two more valid genera, Monodontina and Bineurus, and indicated the presence of at least three genus-level clades new to science⁴. To establish an updated taxonomy of the Pseudodontini, in the present study we describe three new genera: Nyeinchanconcha gen. nov., Sundadontina gen. nov., and Thaiconcha gen. nov. The first monotypic genus from the Middle Mekong Basin in central Laos represents another example of shell convergence as it conchologically resembles members of the tribe Lamellidentini by having a rather thin, ovate shell with a strongly reduced hinge plate. Sundadontina seems to be a large and conchologically variable genus widespread from the Mekong Basin to Thailand, southern Myanmar, and Malaysia. Thaiconcha is a remarkable genus that is phylogenetically sister to Bineurus but conchologically differs by having a less elongated, ovate-shaped shell.

Ancient faunal exchanges between freshwater mussel faunas

The time-calibrated phylogeny suggests that there were several ancient exchanges between faunas of the Sundaland and Western Indochina subregions starting as early as the Late Cretaceous (ca. 80 Myr ago), when the subtribes Pseudodontina and Pilsbryoconchina were separated. The Rectidentini + Contradentini clade most likely evolved within the Sundaland Subregion, with an expansion of a single clade to Western Indochina, while the Indochinellini clade shows an opposite pattern. Both the colonization events were placed in the Late Eocene (ca. 40–46 Myr ago) and were probably triggered by a wet and warm climatic episode during this period⁵⁷. We suggest that these splits may reflect ancient river captures/splits with subsequent colonization/vicariance events in freshwater mussels²². The recent geological study suggests that the paleo-Mekong River was established as a large river in the Middle Miocene due to increased erosion during a period of high monsoon precipitation⁵⁸. Other research assumes that the paleo-Ayeyarwady probably originated sometime between the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene⁵⁹. However, our results indicate that these ages might be underestimated, and the paleo-Mekong and paleo-Ayeyarwady rivers could have been initiated since the Late Cretaceous as did the paleo-Yangtze System⁶⁰. Two ancient monophyletic mussel radiations (age 51–55 Myr) were previously discovered within the putative paleo-Mekong catchment²² also suggesting at least the Early Eocene age of this freshwater system. In summary, our findings support the hypothesis that Southeast Asian freshwater bivalve fauna primarily originated within three evolutionary hotspots (Western Indochina, Sundaland, and East Asian)^5,6 supplemented by ancient (Late Miocene) immigrants that colonized freshwater systems of the western coast of Myanmar from the Indian Subcontinent.

Methods

Data sampling

Mussel specimens were collected from various water bodies throughout Myanmar, Thailand and northern Laos from 2012 to 2018. A foot tissue snip from each specimen was preserved in 96% ethanol immediately after collection. To find the boundaries between biogeographic subregions, we collected freshwater mussels throughout small and medium-sized freshwater basins of the Rakhine Coast and the southern edge of Myanmar in 2018 under a National Geographic Society grant No. NGS-274R-18.

Studied museum collections

The freshwater mussel shell lots were studied in the malacological collections of the Russian Museum of Biodiversity Hotspots [RMBH], Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia, National Museum of Natural History [NMNH], Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America, British Museum of Natural History [NHMUK], London, United Kingdom, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle [MNHN], Paris, France, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova [MSNG], Genoa, Italy, California Academy of Natural Sciences, San Francisco, United States of America [CAS], North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences [NCSM], Raleigh, United States of America, and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology [UMMZ], Ann Arbor, United States of America.

Molecular data and phylogenetic analyses

Multi-locus phylogeny (3 codons of COI + 16 S rRNA + 28 S rRNA) was reconstructed using 271 haplotypes of the Parreysiinae and Gonideinae members from Southeast Asia, East Asia, India, and Africa (Supplementary Table 1). Representatives of the Margaritiferidae, Iridinidae, Etheriidae, Mycetopodidae, Hyriidae, and Trigoniidae were used as outgroup. We used IQ-TREE v1.6.11⁶¹ and MrBayes v3.2.6⁶² as described in our previous work⁶. Bayesian calculations were performed at the San Diego Supercomputer Center through the CIPRES Science Gateway⁶³. The best-fit evolutionary models applied to each partition in the IQ-TREE and MrBayes runs based on Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) of Model Finder implemented in the IQ-TREE web server⁶¹ were as follows: F81 + G (1st codon of COI); GTR + G (2nd codon of COI); TN + I + G (3rd codon of COI); GTR + I + G (16 S rRNA); and TIM2 + I + G (28 S rRNA).

Time-calibrated phylogeny

The time-calibrated phylogeny was reconstructed in BEAST v2.6.1⁶⁴ based on an external COI evolutionary rate (0.265 ± 0.06% substitutions per site per million years) estimated for the Unionidae⁶⁵. This rate can be considered a reliable estimate as it is largely congruent with the data inferred from a mitogenomic reconstruction²⁰. The same multi-locus dataset as for the IQ-TREE and MrBayes phylogenetic analyses (3 codons of COI + 16 S rRNA + 28 S rRNA) was estimated. The evolutionary rate was implemented only to the COI partition. The HKY + G model was applied for each gene partition. The analyses were run using a lognormal relaxed clock algorithm with the Yule speciation process as the tree priors^66,67. Calculations were performed at the San Diego Supercomputer Center through the CIPRES Science Gateway⁶³. We conducted four searches, each with 5 × 10⁷ generations and tree sampling every 1000th generation. The log files were checked visually with Tracer v. 1.7⁶⁸. Most of ESS values were recorded as > 300, a few of them were registered > 100. All runs were compiled with LogCombiner v1.8.4⁶⁷ using an additional re-sampling every 10,000th generation and 25% burn-in. The maximum clade credibility tree was obtained using TreeAnnotator v1.8.4⁶⁷.

Statistical biogeographic analyses

To reconstruct ancestral areas with RASP v3.2⁶⁹, we used the set of 15,004 time-calibrated binary trees that were combined from the four runs of BEAST v2.6.1 (see above). As a condensed tree, we used the user-specified consensus tree, which was calculated based on this set of trees with TreeAnnotator v1.8.4 (see above). Non-target sequences (outgroup taxa and species, the ranges of which are situated beyond Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent) were removed from the tree set using the appropriate option of the software. We used only one haplotype per species. Ancestral area patterns were reconstructed using two probabilistic algorithms: Statistical Dispersal-Vicariance Analysis (S-DIVA) and Bayesian MCMC analysis. Three possible distribution areas were assigned as follows: (A) Western Indochina, (B) Sundaland, and (C) Indian subregions. The S-DIVA analyses were calculated with the following parameters: max areas = 3; allow reconstruction with max reconstructions = 100; max reconstructions for final tree = 1,000; and allowing extinctions. The MCMC analysis was performed with default settings and 500,000 generations. In addition to the reconstructions obtained from each analysis separately, we used summary results of the two kinds of analyses, which were combined with RASP v3.2⁶⁹.

Species delimitation and diagnostics of new taxa

To delimit and diagnose species in our dataset, we used an integrative approach^{4,5,6,7,70,71,72,73} based on the phylogenetic and morphological analyses. First, we applied an automatic species delimitation approach to delimit the Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) that may correspond to biological species. The maximum likelihood COI phylogeny of each tribe inferred from IQ-TREE v1.6.11⁶¹ was used as an input tree for the Poisson Tree Process (PTP) modeling through the PTP web-service (http://mptp.h-its.org)⁷⁴. An uncorrected COI mean p-distance to the nearest neighbor of each species-level lineage was calculated in MEGA7⁷⁵. Second, each MOTU within the clades of interest was studied using morphological criteria (shell shape, umbo position, structure of pseudocardinal and lateral teeth, shape of muscle attachment scars), and was compared with the original descriptions of nominal taxa to link each clade to a biological species. Three shell dimensions of each specimen, included in the type series of new taxa, i.e., the length, height, and width of the shell (all at the maximum diameter), were measured using calipers ( ± 0.1 mm) (Table 1 and Supplementary Table 2). The molecular diagnosis of every new species was designed using fixed nucleotide substitutions, which were estimated for each gene separately using a Toggle Conserved Sites tool of MEGA7⁷⁵ at a 50% level. For the diagnoses, an alignment of congeneric haplotype sequences (tribe-level alignment for Nyeinchanconcha nyeinchani gen. & sp. nov.) was performed using the Muscle algorithm implemented in MEGA7⁷⁵. All deleterious mutations were retained for the analyses. While numerous recent studies reveal that using an integrative approach for freshwater mussel taxonomic research is rather straightforward^{4,5,6,7,70,71,72,73}, its application to freshwater gastropods is more difficult due to several shortcomings such as a possible incongruence in a mitochondrial phylogeny^76,77 and often higher DNA barcoding thresholds between species^46,78,79. At first glance, the differences between these groups can be explained by slower evolutionary rates of freshwater mussels^20,65 compared with those of freshwater gastropods⁸⁰.

Nomenclatural acts

The electronic edition of this article conforms to the requirements of the amended International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN), and hence the new names contained herein are available under that Code from the electronic edition of this article. This published work and the nomenclatural acts it contains have been registered in ZooBank (http://zoobank.org), the online registration system for the ICZN. The LSID for this publication is: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C6AF4F5B-8526–4FF6-BF08-D6697BE24E66. The electronic edition of this paper was published in a journal with an ISSN and has been archived and is available from PubMed Central.

Data availability

The type series of the new taxa are deposited in the Russian Museum of Biodiversity Hotspots [RMBH], Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arkhangelsk, Russia; the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences [NCSM], Raleigh, United States of America; and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology [UMMZ], Ann Arbor, United States of America. The molecular sequences obtained in this study are available in GenBank. Sequence accession numbers and collecting locality for each specimen are presented in Supplementary Tables 1–2. Shell measurements for the type series of the new species are given in Table 1 and Supplementary Table 2.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Prof. Dr. Matthias Glaubrecht and an anonymous reviewer for their valuable comments on the earlier version of this paper. This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France (MEAE), and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of France (MESRI) under project No. 05.616.21.0114 of the Hubert Curien Partnership (PHC) for the Franco-Russian Cooperation for Science and Technology (PHC Kolmogorov 2019). We are grateful to the late Dr. Tony Whitten (Fauna & Flora International – Asia-Pacific, UK), Mr. Frank Momberg (Director for Program Development and Asia-Pacific Program Director of Fauna & Flora International, UK) and Mr. Mark Grindley (Country Director of Fauna & Flora International – Myanmar Program, Myanmar), and the staff of the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar for their great help during this study. Our research in Myanmar was performed under the survey permission No. 5/6000/LFR(210/2018) dated on 23 January 2018 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation of Myanmar and the export permission No. NWCD/CITES/9/5666/2018 dated on 28 June 2018 issued by the Forest Department of the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry of Myanmar. Our samples from Thailand were taken under the export permission No. 11501110316100766 dated on 15 March 2018 issued by the Suvarnabhumi Airport Fish Inspection Office. We are thankful to Dr. Adam J. Baldinger (Museum of Comparative Zoology [MCZ], Harvard University, Cambridge, United States of America), Dr. Virginie Héros (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle [MNHN], Paris, France), Dr. Taehwan Lee (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology [UMMZ], Ann Arbor, United States of America), Ms. Jamie M. Smith (North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences [NCSM], Raleigh, United States of America), Dr. Ellen E Strong (National Museum of Natural History [NMNH], Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America), Dr. Tom S. White and Kevin Webb (British Museum of Natural History [NHMUK], London, United Kingdom) for providing images of shells from museum collections.

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Northern Arctic Federal University, Northern Dvina Emb. 17, 163002, Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation
Ivan N. Bolotov, Ekaterina S. Konopleva, Ilya V. Vikhrev, Mikhail Yu. Gofarov, Olga V. Aksenova & Alexander V. Kondakov
Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, Northern Dvina Emb. 23, 163000, Arkhangelsk, Russian Federation
Ivan N. Bolotov, Ekaterina S. Konopleva, Ilya V. Vikhrev, Mikhail Yu. Gofarov, Olga V. Aksenova, Alena A. Tomilova & Alexander V. Kondakov
CIBIO/InBIO – Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
Manuel Lopes-Lima
CIIMAR/CIMAR – Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal
Manuel Lopes-Lima
SSC/IUCN – Mollusc Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, c/o The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, CB2 3QZ, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Manuel Lopes-Lima
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, 11 West Jones St., Raleigh, NC, 27601, USA
Arthur E. Bogan
Fauna & Flora International – Myanmar Programme, Yangon, Myanmar
Zau Lunn & Nyein Chan
Department of Zoology, Dawei University, Dawei, Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar
Than Win
Department of Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Loei Rajabhat University, Loei, Thailand
Kitti Tanmuangpak
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand
Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan

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Ivan N. Bolotov
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Ekaterina S. Konopleva
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Ilya V. Vikhrev
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Mikhail Yu. Gofarov
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Manuel Lopes-Lima
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Arthur E. Bogan
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Zau Lunn
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Nyein Chan
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Than Win
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Olga V. Aksenova
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Alena A. Tomilova
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Kitti Tanmuangpak
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Sakboworn Tumpeesuwan
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Alexander V. Kondakov
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Contributions

I.N.B. developed the concept of the study. I.N.B., I.V.V., A.E.B., M.L.-L., S.T., K.T., Z.L., N.C., and T.W. collected samples. A.V.K. and E.S.K. designed and processed molecular analyses. E.S.K. performed morphological research and phylogenetic modeling. M.Y.G. created the maps. I.N.B. and E.S.K. wrote the paper, with input from I.V.V., M.L.-L., A.E.B., Z.L., N.C., A.V.K., M.Y.G., O.V.A., and T.W. All authors discussed the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ivan N. Bolotov.

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Bolotov, I.N., Konopleva, E.S., Vikhrev, I. et al. New freshwater mussel taxa discoveries clarify biogeographic division of Southeast Asia. Sci Rep 10, 6616 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63612-5

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Received: 11 September 2019
Accepted: 31 March 2020
Published: 20 April 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-63612-5

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Subjects

Abstract

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Introduction

Results

New Unionidae genera and species from Southeast Asia

New freshwater mussel species distribution and their biogeographic affinities in Southeast Asia

Evolutionary biogeography and time-calibrated phylogeny

Taxonomic account. Family Unionidae Rafinesque, 1820

Tribe Parreysiini Henderson, 1935

Genus Parreysia Conrad, 1853

Parreysia rakhinensis sp. nov

Tribe Indochinellini Bolotov, Pfeiffer, Vikhrev & Konopleva, 2018

Genus Scabiellus gen. nov

Subfamily Gonideinae Ortmann, 1916

Tribe Contradentini Modell, 1942

Genus Balwantia Prashad, 1919 stat. rev

Balwantia baniensis sp. nov

Genus Trapezoideus Simpson, 1900

Trapezoideus lenya sp. nov

Genus Yaukthwa Konopleva et al . , 2019

Yaukthwa avaensis sp. nov

Tribe Pseudodontini Frierson, 1927

Subtribe Pilsbryoconchina Bolotov, Vikhrev & Tumpeesuwan, 2017

Genus Monodontina Conrad, 1853

Monodontina laosica sp. nov

Monodontina lenyanensis sp. nov

Monodontina mekongi sp. nov

Genus Nyeinchanconcha gen. nov

Nyeinchanconcha nyeinchani gen. & sp. nov

Genus Sundadontina gen. nov

Sundadontina brandti sp. nov

Sundadontina tanintharyiensis sp. nov

Sundadontina taskaevi sp. nov

Genus Thaiconcha gen. nov

Subtribe Pseudodontina Frierson, 1927

Genus Pseudodon Gould, 1844

Pseudodon kayinensis sp. nov

Discussion

The Isthmus of Kra as a significant biogeographic barrier for the Unionidae

Eastern edge of the Indian Subregion

Insights into the genus-level taxonomy of the Southeast Asian Unionidae

Ancient faunal exchanges between freshwater mussel faunas

Methods

Data sampling

Studied museum collections

Molecular data and phylogenetic analyses

Time-calibrated phylogeny

Statistical biogeographic analyses

Species delimitation and diagnostics of new taxa

Nomenclatural acts

Data availability

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Acknowledgements

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