Phylogenetic Relationships of the Scorpion Apistobuthus susanae From Khuzestan Province Based on Mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome Oxidase I (COXI) Gene Sequences

Introduction: This study aims to analyze the morphometric and phylogeny of Apistobuthus susanae scorpions using mitochondrial DNA sequences. Information regarding the morphology and biology of scorpions is very limited, and the foundation of this information is the identification of habitats, morphology, and morphometrics of scorpions in different regions. Materials & Methods: In this study, the morphometric analysis based on ۳۲ morphological characteristics of A. susanae and DNA sequencing of COXI was performed. Phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGA ۱۰ software. Both male and female specimens of A. susanae were collected from four cities: Hamidiyeh, Masjed Soleyman, Ramhormoz, and Andimeshk in Khuzestan Province. Results: According to the results, in all cases, the average sizes of female specimens were larger than those of male specimens. Except for the traits Cl, CHL, ML, TIW, MTIL, MTIILL, MTIVL, MTIIW, MTIVW, and MTIH, all other features studied were identical in both male and female specimens (P>۰.۰۵). The results of the analysis of morphometric values of A. susanae were compatible with the phylogenetic tree and supported the morphometric classification. Out of ۶۱۴ nucleotides of the COXI gene amplified for ۱۰ Apistobuthus samples and one sample of Androctonus crassicauda as an outgroup, ۵۵۸ sites were conserved (۹۰.۹۷%), ۴۱ sites were variable (۶.۷۶%), and ۱۵ sites (۲.۲۵%) were parsimony-informative. The analysis of the average genetic distance within the species showed that two specimens from Hamidiyeh had the least divergence (۰%), and two specimens from Ramhormoz and Andimeshk had the greatest inter-specimen genetic divergence (۰.۱%). Conclusion: The greatest intraspecific divergence was observed in the specimens from Andimeshk and Masjed Soleyman, while the least genetic divergence was found in the Ramhormoz samples.

کلیدواژه ها:

Apistobuthus susanae ، Cytochrome oxidase gene ، Iran ، phylogeny