Sequence data on four genes suggest nominal Gerres filamentosus specimens from Nayband National Park in the Persian Gulf represent two distinct species

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

• Hossein Asgharian
• Elahe Elahi
• Ata Kalirad
• H Hosseinzadeh

10.22067/ijab.v6i2.25207

Abstract

Sequence data of a recent COI barcoding study on fish from the Nayband National Park
in the Persian Gulf showed relatively high sequence divergence among nominal Gerres
filamentosus specimens. The sequences grouped into two clusters, signaling the possible
existence of cryptic species. The clustering pattern was corroborated by results of 16S
rDNA sequencing. We investigated the hypothesis that G. filamentosus specimens
represent cryptic species by inspecting sequences of Cyt b, an additional mitochondrial
gene, and 28S rDNA a well-conserved nuclear marker. Based on sequence data of four
genes (COI, 16S rDNA, 28S rDNA and Cyt b), we propose that nominal Gerres filamentosus
specimens from Nayband National Park represent a species complex comprising two
distinct but closely related species. The observation of a large deletion in the highly
conserved 28S rDNA gene of a representative specimen of one of the G. filamentosus
clusters was considered particularly informative. G. filamentosus occurs through vast ranges
of the Indo-Pacific, from the east coast of Africa to Japan and Australia. More
comprehensive sampling and additional morphological and molecular analysis of
members of this nominal species is required.

Keywords

• Endemic Gerres filamentosus, Nayband National Par
• cryptic species
• DNA barcoding
• Persian Gulf

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