Assessing ecological and molecular divergence between the closely related species Hydrolagus pallidus and H. affinis (Chimaeridae).

This study investigated taxonomic validity of the pale ghost shark Hydrolagus pallidus Hardy & Stehmann, 1990, which was described as a species distinct from the smalleyed rabbitfish H. affinis (de Brito Capello 1868). While few morphological characters distinguish the two taxa, a striking difference in sex ratio and fixed differences (1·1–1·6% divergence) in the cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcoding gene support the recognition of both species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]