Intra- and interspecific allozymic variation in Liparis fabricii and Liparis gibbus (Teleostei, Liparididae) from Spitsbergen waters

Abstract

In the literature, arctic snailfish of the genus Liparis are often identified as L. liparis, primarily due to the wide morphological variation reported for this species. Recent morphological studies have, however, identified separate arctic Liparis species. Electrophoretic studies of the genetic relationship between two such species (L. fabricii and L. gibbus), from deepwater localities west of Spitsbergen revealed significant differences in allozyme mobility at a series of gene-loci and thus supported the evidence that they are valid species. Their extremely low intra-specific variability, with average heterozygosities well below one percent, is comparable to measures for other polar teleosts. No protein coding locus was found suitable for studies of possible population structuring of L. gibbus due to the very low frequencies of all but the commonest allele.