Reply to Luzzatto et al.(2014): "Comment on 'Genetic evidence and new morphometric data as essential tools to identify the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus (Pisces, Syngnathidae), González et al. (2014)'"

Abstract

Luzzatto et al. (2014) criticize both methodological and other aspects of our work (González et al., 2014). Our paper is a redescription of the Patagonian seahorse Hippocampus patagonicus Piacentino & Luzzatto 2004, based on the combination of morphometric and genetic analyses, which definitively contributes to clarifying the taxonomic status of H. patagonicus and validates the species. After criticizing several methodological aspects of our work, the authors concluded that.The work presented by González et al. (2014) is based on misinterpretations of the original study they claim to be improving and no new considerations are provided about the taxonomic status of H. patagonicus. Below, we respond to these criticisms. The original description of H. patagonicus by Piacentino & Luzzatto (2004) presents conceptual and methodological deficiencies that indicate a redescription was necessary. Our study clearly identifies these gaps, related with the improper selection of diagnostic characters. Our study demonstrates that the morphometric measures used as diagnostic characters in the original description of H. patagonicus overlap with those reported by other authors for Hippocampus erectus Perry 1810 (Vari, 1982; Lourie et al., 1999 and see Table V in González et al., 2014), specifically: (1) the number of rays in the pectoral-fin, (2) the number of rings on the tail and (3) the proportion of the snout length with respect to the length of the head. González et al. (2014) also present strong evidence (as well as evidence from other authors) that other characters given in the original description are not appropriate for diagnosis of seahorses (i.e. size and shape of the spines, colour patterns and pigmentation).