Phylogeny and molecular delineation of leiognathids in the Southeast coastal waters of India

DNA barcoding is very useful in identification of animal species and resolving taxonomic ambiguity of morphologically similar animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate molecular identification of like Leiognathid fishes based on cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequence. Molecular level identification and comparison of six species from four genera of Leiognatidae were done. Results showed that A + T content of Leiognathids ranged from ۵۵.۲۷ to ۵۳.۳۲%. Mean genetic diversity within the species and overall species diversity within the family were calculated to be ۰.۰۰۴ and ۰.۱۷۸, respectively. Maximum K۲P genetic distance (۰.۲۵۵) was observed between Gazza minuta and Leiognathus equulus. We obtained a monophyletic phylogenetic tree for Leiognathids with two major clades. One major clade contained only Gazza, and Eubleekeria, Karalla and Leiognathus, were grouped under another clade. Genus Leiognathus, which is not sexually dimorphic, get clustered as a separate sub-clade. Thus COI gene sequence could be used for species identification and delineation of complex groups like Leiognathids.

کلیدواژه ها:

DNA Barcoding ، COI ، Genetic variation ، Leiognathidae ، Phylogeny