Genetic identification of marine eels (Anguilliformes: Congroidei) through DNA barcoding from Kasimedu fishing harbour

Mitochondrial DNA Part B

Rupavath Rajendar Kumar¹  Mrinal Kumar Das¹  E. Agnita Sharon²  Ranjana Bhaskar²  Chandika R. G.² 

[1] Zoological Survey of India, Marine Biology Regional Centre, Chennai, Indi;Zoological Survey of India, Southern Regional Centre, Chennai, Indi;

关键词: Muraenesocidae;    COI;    phylogeography;    ophichthidae;    congroidae;    barcode;   

DOI  :  10.1080/23802359.2021.1996291

来源: Taylor & Francis

【 摘 要 】

Along with the mysteries of their body's shape like snakes, marine eels have fascinated biologists for centuries. Information on the molecular taxonomy of marine eels is scarce from the Southeast Indian region and hence, the present study aimed to barcode marine eels collected from Kasimedu fishing harbor, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A total of 44 specimens were collected and DNA barcoding was done with a COI marker. The evolutionary history was inferred using the BA method. We observed 17 species, 10 genera, 4 families from the suborder Congroidei of which the genus Ariosoma and Conger were found to be predominant. The species of the family Muraenesocidae and Congridae are highly variable. The average Kimura two-parameter (K2P) distances within species, genera, and families were 3.08%, 6.80%, 13.80%, respectively. Maximum genetic distance (0.307) was observed between the species Muraenesox cinereus and Ariosoma sp.1. BA tree topology revealed distinct clusters in concurrence with the taxonomic status of the species. A deeper split was observed in Uroconger lepturus. We sequenced for the first-time barcode of Sauromuraenesox vorax and a new species Ophichthus chennaiensis is the gap-filling in identifying this taxon in the Indian context. We found a correct match between morphological and genetic identification of the species analyzed, depending on the cluster analysis performed (BINs and ASAP). This demonstrates that the COI gene sequence is suitable for phylogenetic analysis and species identification.

【 授权许可】

CC BY