Occurrence and the ecological implication of a tropical anguillid eel Anguilla marmorata from peninsular Malaysia.

Siti Raudah Abdul Kadir,Takaomi Arai,Kok Onn Kwong,Li Lian Wong,Mohamad Hafiz Farhan Abdul Rasid

doi:10.3897/zookeys.695.13298

Abstract

Recent studies suggested that accurate species identification in the tropical anguillid eels based on morphological examination requires confirmation by molecular genetic analysis. Previous studies found that two tropical anguillid eels, Anguilla bicolor bicolor and A. bengalensis bengalensis, were found in peninsular Malaysia (West Malaysia) based on morphological and molecular genetic analyses. This study is the first record of A. marmorata in peninsular Malaysia confirmed by both morphological and molecular genetic analyses. The present study also suggests that accurate tropical eel species identification is difficult by morphological identification alone; therefore, molecular genetic analysis is needed for precise species confirmation.

Highlights

The anguillid eels of the genus Anguilla Schrank are widely distributed throughout the world
As Arai et al (2015) and Arai and Wong (2016) suggested that tropical eel species identification could be accurately validated by molecular genetic analysis after morphological observation, the specimens were subjected to identification using both morphological and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) sequence analyses
This paper describes the first confirmed record of a tropical anguillid eel, Anguilla marmorata, from peninsular Malaysia

Summary

Introduction

The anguillid eels of the genus Anguilla Schrank are widely distributed throughout the world. These eels have a catadromous life history, migrating between inland or coastal growth habitats and offshore spawning locations. Freshwater eel biology such as species composition, distribution, and life history has gradually accumulated in tropical eel species in Malaysian waters (e.g., Arai et al 2012, 2015, 2017a, b, Arai and Chino 2013, Arai 2014, Abdul Kadir et al 2015, Arai and Wong 2016, Wong et al 2017). Two anguillid eels, Anguilla bengalensis bengalensis and A. bicolor bicolor, have been confirmed to occur in peninsular Malaysia (Arai et al 2015, Arai and Wong 2016)

Methods

Results

Conclusion