Analysis Of COI Gene Sequences Research Articles

Evaluation of Praziquantel effectiveness in treating Nile tilapia clinostomid infections and its relationships to fish health and water quality

This study aimed to conduct a multidisciplinary investigation integrating detailed morphology, molecular characterization, water parameters, histopathology alteration, and the trials of treatment of Clinostomum spp. In this study, 300 Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were collected from the farmed and wild Nile River at Al Bahr Al Aazam, Giza Governorate to assess Clinostomid infection prevalence. Fish and water samples were collected from private fish farms, and water drains at Dakahlia, and Giza, Egypt. Analysis of the water revealed inadequate water quality, particularly in the fish farms. Snails and piscivorous birds were abundant at fish collection sites. The recovered Clinostomid MCs morphological characteristics and COI gene sequence analysis identified them as Clinostomum complanatum, C. phalacrocoracis, and Euclinostomum heterostomum. Clinostomid MCs disturbed the fish’s hematological and biochemical blood parameters. Bath treatment of parasitized fish with praziquantel (2 mg/L for 24 h) revealed a significant reduction in the number of vital MCs vs. infected fish (non-treated). Praziquantel (PZQ) is an effective and safe therapy for controlling Clinostomid infections affecting farmed Nile tilapia. The current findings indicate a link between poor environmental conditions and Clinostomum infections in tilapia. The study highlights the impacts of Clinostomid MCs on fish health and recommends bath treatment with PZQ as an efficient control method for these dangerous parasites to protect human and fish health.

Taxonomic and conservation status of Majoidea “Spider Crabs” from Indonesia: Recommendations for management

The Majoidea contains either six, seven, or eight valid families according to different sources. This has resulted in difficulties with the taxonomy and conservation of this superfamily. The Majoidea in Indonesia waters were documented in the past, however, their taxonomy and conservation status were booth poorly documented. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the taxonomic status of; and (2) to evaluate the conservation status of Indonesian majoid crabs. The IUCN red list was used to evaluate the conservation status of Majoidea identified based on DNA barcodes Mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI). Considering genetic distances between specimens, genetic divergence, the phylogenetic trees and concepts of genetic species, the superfamily Majoidea is composed of multiple species or genera that belong to different subfamilies. This study differentiated all individual sequences as different species or genera except three sequences from Aceh and Solor. The results were classified into two groups based on taxonomic status. The first group comprised species, e.g. Schizophrys aspera, Tylocarcinus styx, Perinia tumida, Menaethius orientalis, and Pisa armata/Hyastenus elongatus. The second group comprise such as Majidae sp., Brachyura sp. and Decapoda sp. The Majoidea was recognized and differentiated based on data set comprising 45 haplotypes, 227 segregating sites, 0.99 haplotype diversity, and 0.17 nucleotide diversity. Minimum Spanning Tree analyses of COI gene sequences reveal 47 distinct groups of operational taxonomic units corresponding to genera or species. In 2021, all of Majoidea taxa were listed as either data deficient or not evaluated in the IUCN Red List or appendices, due to insufficient data. These results suggest that comprehensive follow-up surveys of the taxonomic and conservation status of Majoidea are still urgently required.

Diversity, Distribution, and Habitat Association of Anuran Species from Keffa, Southwest Ethiopia

The aim of the current study was to provide a description of the species composition and habitat association of anuran species found in the Keffa area of southwest Ethiopia, among the least studied natural areas in Ethiopia. Data were gathered in both the rainy and dry seasons. Opportunistic observations, audio, and visual encounters were used to perform the survey. To capture different frog species, drift fence and pitfall trap techniques were used. Three habitat types—wetlands, agricultural land, and riverine forests—were explored for the frog species. A total of 3672-person field hours were spent and 5678 individuals of 26 different anuran species from eight different families were recorded. Of these, six species were new records for the Keffa area. Species determination was assessed using morphology and validated with genetic barcoding. The mitochondrial 16S rRNA and COI gene sequence analysis have been used in molecular systematic analyses of the frog species. The Leptopelis ragazzii that was discovered to be present in the earlier study was actually Leptopelis vannutellii, as evidenced by DNA sequencing. The Hyperolius individuals were initially categorized as H. nasutus, but after conducting DNA barcoding, they were found to be H. microps. At least three potential new candidate species (Leptopelis sp. 1, Leptopelis sp. 2, and Phrynobatrachus sp. 1) were discovered. Hyperoliidae was the most abundant family from the recorded anurans, followed by Phrynobatrachidae, while Conrauidae was the least abundant. Most species were found in the wetland habitat, followed by riverine forest, while agricultural land had the least. Wetlands had the highest values for the Shannon diversity index (2.131), followed by agricultural land (1.58) and riverine forests (1.459). The environmental variables revealed that temperature had a considerable negative impact, while precipitation had a non-significantly positive relationship with anuran abundance. The Keffa area is rich in frog species, accounting for 35% of the country’s batrachofauna. However, the habitats have been fragmented and ruined by agricultural expansion, water drainage from the wetlands, and the conversion of horticulture to field crops. We recommend that non-governmental organizations, districts, regional officials, and local people in and around Keffa actively engage in wetland and forest conservation and protection.

Genetic Diversity of Chanos Chanos (Forsskål, 1775) from Natural Populations in Vietnam

The genetic diversity of five natural populations of milkfish (Chanos chanos) collected in Nghe An, Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa provinces in Vietnam was examined using COI gene sequence analysis. Twelve haplotypes were noted from a total of 50 sequences along with 12 variable sites and 6 parsimony informative sites. The Quang Binh milkfish population had the highest haplotype (0.889 ± 0.060) and nucleotide diversities (0.00301 ± 0.00049). Overall, haplotype and nucleotide diversities were 0.804 ± 0.036 and 0.00212 ± 0.00026, respectively. Genetic differentiation (FST) was high between the milkfish populations of Nghe An – Quang Binh (0.21744) and Nghe An - Phu Yen (0.26215). Haplotype network analysis indicated that milkfish populations shared common haplotypes and each population had its own private haplotypes. Population structure and demographic expansion were not evident for all populations except for Quang Binh. This is the first principal endeavor to understand genetic information of milkfish in Vietnam, thereby providing information for scientists, managers, and the general public to establish timely strategies to explore, protect, and develop milkfish genetic resources in the future.

Identification and determination of phylogenetic relationship amongLabeo rohita, Labeo catlaand their reciprocal hybrids by traditional and molecular tools

Current study identified the rohu–catla intergeneric hybrids produced from reciprocal crosses at fingerling stage and attempted to find relationship with parent species, Catla (Labeo catla) and rohu (Labeo rohita) through traditional morphological and meristic approaches and a genetic marker, cytochrome C Oxidase I (CO1). Phenotypically, both hybrids (RC, L. rohita♀, and CR, L. catla♀) were intermediate in most of the traits, while some traits resemble their mother species. For accurate identification and phylogenetic relationship of all cross-types (RR, CC, CR and RC), DNA barcoding by mitochondria COX 1 was also conducted. The constructed Neighbour-Joining (NJ) tree (K2P) based on COI gene sequence analysis categorized all four crosses into two genetically distant groups. Each hybrid showed an identical phylogenetic relationship with the mother species, that is CR hybrids showed the minimum distance with L. catla, and RC hybrid showed the minimum distance with L. rohita. Moreover, the genetic distance between L. catla and RC hybrid was higher than between L. rohita and RC hybrid.

Molecular and MALDI-TOF MS identification of swallow bugs Cimex hirundinis (Heteroptera: Cimicidae) and endosymbionts in France

BackgroundThe Cimicidae are obligatory blood-feeding ectoparasites of medical and veterinary importance. We aim in the current study to assess the ability of MALDI-TOF MS to identify Cimex hirundinis swallow bugs collected in house martin nests.MethodsSwallow bugs were picked out from abandoned nests of house martin swallows and identified morphologically to the species level. The bugs were randomly selected, dissected and then subjected to MALDI-TOF MS and molecular analyses.ResultsA total of 65 adults and 50 nymphs were used in the attempt to determine whether this tool could identify the bug species and discriminate their developmental stages. Five adults and four nymphs of C. hirundinis specimens were molecularly identified to update our MS homemade arthropod database. BLAST analysis of COI gene sequences from these C. hirundinis revealed 98.66–99.12% identity with the corresponding sequences of C. hirundinis of the GenBank. The blind test against the database supplemented with MS reference spectra showed 100% (57/57) C. hirundinis adults and 100% (46/46) C. hirundinis nymphs were reliably identified and in agreement with morphological identification with logarithmic score values between 1.922 and 2.665. Ninety-nine percent of C. hirundinis specimens tested were positive for Wolbachia spp. The sequencing results revealed that they were identical to Wolbachia massiliensis, belonging to the new T-supergroup strain and previously isolated from C. hemipterus.ConclusionsWe report for the first time to our knowledge a case of human infestation by swallow bugs (C. hirundinis) in France. We also show the usefulness of MALDI-TOF MS in the rapid identification of C. hirundinis specimens and nymphs with minimal sample requirements. We phylogenetically characterized the novel Wolbachia strain (W. massiliensis) infecting C. hirundinis and compared it to other recognized Wolbachia clades.Graphical

Introduction pages

Notulae Scientia Biologicae (http://www.notulaebiologicae.ro), Issue 4, Volume 12, 2020: The papers published in this issue represent interesting novelties in different topics of life science. Among the exciting researches or reviews, we invite readers to find news about: The influence of human chorionic gonadotropin on hormonal and haematological profile of postpubertal male albino rats exposed to chronic oral administration of alcohol; Phylogenetic observation in Ariidae, Bagridae and Plotosidae catfishes by COI gene sequence analysis; A preliminary study and new distributional records of family Erebidae (Leach, [1815]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuoidea) from Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India; Evaluation of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. (R. Br.)) landraces for resistance to stem borer (Coniesta ignefusalis Hampson.) infestation; Photochemical responses of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants to heat stress; Vegetative propagation of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) selections; Effect of pre-storage hot air and hot water treatments on post-harvest quality of mango (Mangifera indica Linn.) fruit; Effect of snowmelt regime on phenology of herbaceous species at and around treeline in Western Himalaya, India etc.

Morphological characterisation and molecular phylogeny of several species of Criconematina (Nematoda: Tylenchida) associated with turfgrass in Korea, as inferred from ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA

Summary Six species belonging to the Criconematina, including a morphologically cryptic population within the Mesocriconema curvatum-group, are characterised based on integrative taxonomy based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic inferences from analyses of the 28S-rRNA, ITS-rRNA and COI gene sequences. Mesocriconema sp. 1 is morphologically similar to M. nebraskense and M. curvatum, differing from M. curvatum by the occasional presence of 1-2 anastomoses and a relatively higher R value, and from M. nebraskense by only a narrowed first lip annulus. However, based on COI gene sequence analysis, significant differences among the three species are evident. The sequence information in the COI gene among Mesocriconema spp. continues to reveal the existence of cryptic species within well-established species designations, and the concept of Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units might be helpful in grouping the different lineages according to sequence identities. Mesocriconema nebraskense is detailed herein for the first time outside the USA. DNA sequences of Hemicycliophora labiata were similar to those in GenBank while the existence in Korea of M. curvatum, Hemicriconemoides brachyurus and Paratylenchus nanus is molecularly confirmed.

Black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Aras River Basin: Species composition and floral visitation

Black flies are insects of medical, veterinary, and environmental significance. Historically, they have attacked humans and caused simuliotoxicosis in livestock in the Aras River Basin in northwest Iran. However, information on the species and their bionomics is limited in the region. Adult flies were collected from diverse ecotopes of the Aras River Basin. After morphological identification, representative specimens of each morphological group were subjected to mtDNA COI gene sequence analysis for species diagnosis and to infer relationships. Flies also were examined for pollinia. A total of 1880 specimens representing 12 morphotaxa in two genera (Simulium and Metacnephia) were identified: Simulium turgaicum (n=1834), S. kiritshenkoi (n=12), S. bezzii (n=7), S. brevitarse (n=7), S. pseudequinum (n=5), S. aureum species group (n=4), S. vernum species group (n=3), S. transcaspicum (n=1), three unidentified species of the subgenus Simulium (n=5), and Metacnephia possibly persica (n=2). Fifty two haplotypes were detected for the 65 COI sequences analyzed. Intraspecific genetic divergence was 0.19-8.83%, whereas the mean interspecific genetic distances among the morphotaxa were 1.41-19.58%. Molecular analyses recovered three well-supported lineages within S. turgaicum. One lineage included black flies collected from agricultural fields, a second lineage involved black flies captured from animals, and a third lineage included specimens that had visited flowers, as evidenced by presence of pollinia. The relative abundance (97%) and observations of the S. turgaicum complex biting humans are important epidemiological factors. Future studies are needed to define the potential epidemiological risk of simulids in Khoda-Afarin County of Iran.

Hide-and-seek with hoverflies: Merodon aureus – a species, a complex or a subgroup?

Abstract In order to disentangle the currently confused interpretations and nomenclature of Merodon aureus and M. aeneus, we have reviewed all existing type material and species names known to us as assigned synonyms of these taxa. We resolve M. aeneus as being a junior synonym of M. aureus. We designate a lectotype for M. aureus and a neotype for M. aeneus. Additionally, we provide evidence that M. aureus, together with two newly discovered taxa (M. calidus sp. nov. and M. ortus sp. nov.), represent a complex of cryptic species named the M. aureus species complex. This complex, together with the M. unicolor species complex and the species M. pumilus, is part of the M. aureus subgroup. The M. unicolor species complex comprises two cryptic species: M. unicolor and M. albidus sp. nov. The new species are described by applying an integrative taxonomic approach using several data types (COI and 28S rRNA genes, geometric morphometry of the wings, ecological and distributional data). Based on the COI gene sequence analysis and distributional data, the pupa previously described as an immature stage of the species M. aureus is redefined as an immature stage of the new species M. calidus. Speciation within the M. aureus subgroup is discussed in the context of the phylogeographic history in the studied region.

Asymmetron lucayanum: How many species are valid?

The cephalochordates amphioxus or lancelets are benthic marine animals representing the earliest divergent evolutionary lineage within chordates. Although amphioxus are present in most of the world’s tropical and temperate oceans, only about thirty different species grouped into three different genera, Branchiostoma, Epigonichthys and Asymmetron have been described. In the genus Asymmetron, only two species have been characterized, although for one of them, A. lucayanum, several cryptic lineages exist. In this work we have sequenced and analyzed the mitogenome of an A. lucayanum population previously described in the Red Sea. The phylogenetic study using this complete mitogenome as well as the analysis of COI gene sequences of several individuals of this Red Sea population show that the Red Sea population is a new cryptic species. We propose to call this new species Asymmetron rubrum.

GENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF KISSING GOURAMI (Helostoma temminckii Cuvier, 1829) IN OGAN RIVER, SOUTH SUMATRA INFERRED FROM 16S rRNA AND COI MITOCHONDRIAL GENES

Genetic characterization data of kissing gourami are important to understand historical lineage thus enhancing sustainability of the species and to establish regulation for sustainable management of the fish stock in their habitat. However, investigation of genetic characterization of kissing gourami, one of native Indonesian freshwater fishes has poorly understood. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine genetic characterization of the fish species collected from Ogan River, South Sumatra using partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes, 16S rRNA and COI. The results revealed that for the 621 bp determined in 16S rRNA gene of the samples, five sites were variable, of which one was parsimony informative. Concatenate data revealed three haplotypes with an overall haplotype diversity of 0.833±0.222 and nucleotide diversity of 0.003±0.001. The genetic divergence varied from 0-0.49%. Next, sequence analysis of COI gene exhibited 609 bp which can be translated into 203 amino acids. For the 609 bp sequence determined in the fish samples, three haplotypes were revealed with nine variable sites and two parsimony informatives. Haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity of the fish samples were 0.833±0.22 and 0.00794±0.0025, respectively. The haplotype divergence between the fish samples was also supported by three nonsynonymous codons. In addition, the genetic divergence varied from 0 % to 1.16 %. The results suggest that genetic variation of the kissing gourami has to be monitored and further studies are needed to compare the same species from different location to know the historical lineage and demography.

Morphological and Molecular Evidence for Multiple Taxa in Simulium parahiyangum (Diptera: Simuliidae), a Geographic Generalist Black Fly in Southeast Asia.

Seven populations of Simulium parahiyangum Takaoka & Sigit (Diptera: Simuliidae), a geographically widespread nominal species of black fly in Southeast Asia, were morphologically and molecularly studied. Three morphoforms based on male and pupal morphological features, and two primary lineages based on the COI gene sequence analysis were recognized. Morphoform 1 (lineage 1) from Sarawak, Malaysia, is identified as S. parahiyangum sensu stricto and morphoform 2 (lineage 2) from Thailand and Vietnam, and morphoform 3 (lineage 1) from Peninsular Malaysia are each regarded as distinct species, although morphoform 3 is partially homosequential for the COI gene with morphoform 1. Morphoforms 2 and 3 are described as Simulium ngaoense sp. nov. and Simulium sazalyi sp. nov., respectively. Overall, S. parahiyangum is not a single geographic generalist but a composite of multiple species.

A taxonomic review of the genus Palumbina Rondani, 1876 (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae, Thiotrichinae) from China, with descriptions of twelve new species

Palumbina is a small genus of Gelechiidae that includes species distributed only in the Old World. It was recently assigned to the subfamily Thiotrichinae, but the morphological and molecular studies at the species level have not been extensively conducted. In this study, we focused on the taxonomy of the Chinese Palumbina using morphology and DNA barcoding analysis to confirm the species identification and the relationship among closely related species. In China, three species of this genus were recorded previously. A total of 19 were finally recognized in the present study, including 12 new species: P. magnisigna sp. nov., P. grandiunca sp. nov., P. melanotricha sp. nov., P. atricha sp. nov., P. sigmoides sp. nov., P. acuticula sp. nov., P. rugosa sp. nov., P. sineloba sp. nov., P. spinevalva sp. nov., P. acerosa sp. nov., P. triangularis sp. nov. and P. acinacea sp. nov., and five species that are new records for China: P. chelophora (Meyrick, 1918), P. diplobathra (Meyrick, 1918), P. macrodelta (Meyrick, 1918), P. nesoclera (Meyrick, 1929) and P. operaria (Meyrick, 1918). Three new combinations are proposed: P. operaria (Meyrick, 1918) comb. nov., P. albilustra (Walia et Wadhawan, 2005) comb. nov. and P. shivai (Walia et Wadhawan, 2005) comb. nov., and one new synonymy is established: Thyrsostoma albilustra (Walia et Wadhawan, 2005), syn. nov. of P. oxyprora (Meyrick, 1922). Based on the neighbor-joining analysis of COI gene sequences of 67 exemplar specimens, four clades were well supported with high bootstrap values resulting in four species-groups: the guerinii-group, the grandiunca-group, the macrodelta-group and the nesoclera-group. However, seven species were grouped together in an additional clade with weak support and P. diplobathra and P. chelophora were not clustered with any other species due to the high genetic divergences. Palumbina chelophora showed typical characteristics of the genus morphologically, but it was not embedded within Palumbina as monophyletic from the tree, assuming that the sole use of mitochondrial fragments could not resolve the deeper relationship. Therefore, further investigation is needed to clarify those issues. In this study, the generic diagnosis was reviewed based on previous studies and morphological examination.

Antimicrobial Potential of Earthworm Wegeneriona sp. against Human Pathogens

The medicinal value of earthworms has been known for centuries. The earthworms are the source of proteins, peptides, enzymes and physiologically active substances. Thus in the present study, the earthworm skin extracts were prepared and subjected to antimicrobial activity which was determined by the agar well diffusion method. The antimicrobial substances showed activity against Serratia marcescens. The molecular weight of the peptide from skin extract was found to be ~3kDa by SDS – PAGE and confirmed by zymogram analysis. Further the earthworm was identified by morphological and COI gene sequence analysis and resulted to be Wegeneriona sp. This study may lead to the formulation of new antimicrobial drug from the earthworm skin extract.

Composition and Genetic Diversity of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) on Islands and Mainland Shores of Kenya's Lakes Victoria and Baringo.

The Lake Baringo and Lake Victoria regions of Kenya are associated with high seroprevalence of mosquito-transmitted arboviruses. However, molecular identification of potential mosquito vector species, including morphologically identified ones, remains scarce. To estimate the diversity, abundance, and distribution of mosquito vectors on the mainland shores and adjacent inhabited islands in these regions, we collected and morphologically identified adult and immature mosquitoes and obtained the corresponding sequence variation at cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COI) and internal transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2) gene regions. A total of 63 species (including five subspecies) were collected from both study areas, 47 of which have previously been implicated as disease vectors. Fourteen species were found only on island sites, which are rarely included in mosquito diversity surveys. We collected more mosquitoes, yet with lower species composition, at Lake Baringo (40,229 mosquitoes, 32 species) than at Lake Victoria (22,393 mosquitoes, 54 species). Phylogenetic analysis of COI gene sequences revealed Culex perexiguus and Cx. tenagius that could not be distinguished morphologically. Most Culex species clustered into a heterogeneous clade with closely related sequences, while Culex pipiens clustered into two distinct COI and ITS2 clades. These data suggest limitations in current morphological identification keys. This is the first DNA barcode report of Kenyan mosquitoes. To improve mosquito species identification, morphological identifications should be supported by their molecular data, while diversity surveys should target both adults and immatures. The diversity of native mosquito disease vectors identified in this study impacts disease transmission risks to humans and livestock.

Genetic characterization of Bagarius species using cytochrome c oxidase I and cytochrome b genes

In this study, we first inferred the genetic variability of two Bagarius bagarius populations collected from Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers of India using two mtDNA markers. Sequence analysis of COI gene did not show significant differences between two populations whereas cytochrome b gene showed significant differences between two populations. Followed by, genetic relationship of B. bagarius and B. yarrielli was analyzed using COI and cytochrome b gene and the results showed a higher level genetic variation between two species. The present study provides support for the suitability of COI and cytochrome b genes for the identification of B. bagarius and B. yarrielli.

COI gene sequence analysis for testing cyclical mating in securing genetic diversity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

In this study we analyzed sequences of the COI gene to investigate the genetic structure and diversity in four populations of the Giant Malaysian Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and to test the effectiveness of cyclical mating as means of securing genetic diversity. Forty-three haplotypes were generated for the parental populations; most of these were unique, with moderate genetic and low nucleotide diversities. However Tajima's neutrality test indicated a significant (p < 0.05) departure of the Negeri Sembilan population from the mutation–drift equilibrium, suggesting that it may be losing genetic variability. To combat this problem we recommend a seasonal fishing ban. The AMOVA test results (5.45%, p < 0.00001), the networking of haplotypes and their phylogenetic tree all revealed clear population structuring between the populations. Genetic or haplotype diversity in the progeny groups had increased indicating that a cyclical mating system could be an effective means of maintaining it. The utilization of unique haplotypes in aquaculture, developing DNA barcodes for broods in genetic improvement programs as well as in evaluating restocking activities is recommended. For a better insight into the differences between and among the populations, further investigations using nuclear markers are required.

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Relationships of Threadfin Breams (Family: Nemipteridae) Using mtDNA Marker

Cytochrome c oxidase-1 gene sequences of mitochondrial genome were analyzed for species identification and phylogenetic relationship among the commercially important Nemipterus species. Sequence analysis of COI gene clearly indicated that all the nine fish species fell into distinct clads, which are genetically distant from each other and exhibited identical phylogenetic reservation. All the COI gene sequences provide sufficient phylogenetic information and evolutionary relationship to distinguish the nine Nemipterus species unambiguously. As per the neighbour-joining (NJ) and maximum likelihood (ML) trees, all the nine species are genetically distant from each other and exhibited identical phylogenetic reservation. Based on the NJ and ML phylogenetic trees N. mesoprion, N. zysron, N. hexodon, N. nematophorus, N. virgatus and N. bipunctatus were closely related with high bootstrap value (97). The overall mean Kimura two parameter (K2P) distances between the nine species was 0.109. The intra species K2P distance was high in N. japonicus (0.069) followed by N. peronii (0.050) and N. mesoprion (0.002). This study proves the use of mtDNA COI gene sequence based approach is an alternative tool for identifying fish species at a faster pace.

Phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of the spear lobsters Linuparus (Decapoda: Palinuridae), with the description of a new species

Linuparus White, 1847 comprises three extant species, Linuparus trigonus (Von Siebold, 1824), L. sordidus Bruce, 1965, and L. somniosus Berry and George, 1972, as well as 32 fossil species. Most fossil records are from North America and Europe, but the extant species are all confined to the Indo-West Pacific. Different colour forms in L. trigonus and L. sordidus have been noted, with Northern Hemisphere specimens generally darker in colour for both species. The phylogenetic relationships of the extant Linuparus species, including the colour forms, were investigated using mitochondrial 12S rRNA and COI gene sequence analysis. We found no genetic evidence to differentiate the colour morphs of L. sordidus, but the two colour forms of L. trigonus were clearly distinct at the species level. This is supported morphologically by a consistent difference in the shape of the thoracic sternum between the two forms. The paler coloured Southern Hemisphere form is described as a new species, L. meridionalis. Phylogenetic analysis shows that L. trigonus and L. meridionalis sp. nov. are derived sister taxa, while L. somniosus is basal within the genus. Thus the present results support the previous hypothesis that Linuparus was originated in shallow water.