01322nas a2200169   4500008004100000022001400041245015200055210006900207260002800276300001200304490000700316520072100323100002301044700002101067700002101088856004301109       2013                        eng d  a0076-299700a{Phenotypic Differentiation of Ecologically Significant Brachidontes Species Co-Occurring in Intertidal Mussel Beds from the Southwestern Atlantic}0 aPhenotypic Differentiation of Ecologically Significant Brachidon  bInstitute of Malacology  a59–670 v563 aIntertidal communities from rocky shores of the southwestern Atlantic are dominated by two small-sized mussels of the genus Brachidontes, B. rodriguezii (d'Orbigny, 1846) and B. purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819). Their generic placement, separation of specimens based on external conchological characters and geographic distribution are problematic. We conducted a comparative study based on extensive collections and observations at 14 sites along the coasts of the southwestern Atlantic, complemented by the study of materials from museum collections. Well-preserved specimens of the two species are distinguishable on the basis of shell characters, some of them previously ignored, over their combined latitudinal range.1 aAdami, Mariana, L.1 aPastorino, Guido1 aOrensanz, J., M.  uhttp://dx.doi.org/10.4002/040.056.0204