The main role for genetics in marine invertebrates is the
identification of species and groups of interbreeding individuals. In Asturias
exists an ancient culinary tradition of consumption for limpets (Patella s.s.)
but there is a lack of studies about these species. We have sampled Asturian
marine Patella s.s. specimens and conducted sequencing of the mtDNA COI
gene. We have confirmed the presence of four Patella s.s. in the Asturian
coasts (P. vulgata, P. depressa, P.aspera, and P. rustica). Our work raises
concerns about the current state of the P. vulgata populations in Asturias,
where it is exploited, due to its low levels of genetic variation. Our phylogenetic
analyses using Bayesian approaches confirmed that patellids belong to four
different clades but gives a new version about how these clades are related
inside the genus aiming for the necessity of more work to address this issue.
