International Journal of Biology Reports

fa Phylogeny and molecular delineation of leiognathids in the Southeast coastal waters of India عمومى General پژوهشي Research DNA barcoding is very useful in identification of animal species and resolving taxonomic ambiguity of morphologically similar animals. The aim of the present study was to investigate molecular identification of like Leiognathid fishes based on cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequence. Molecular level identification and comparison of six species from four genera of Leiognatidae were done. Results showed that A + T content of Leiognathids ranged from 55.27 to 53.32%. Mean genetic diversity within the species and overall species diversity within the family were calculated to be 0.004 and 0.178, respectively. Maximum K2P genetic distance (0.255) was observed between Gazza minuta and Leiognathus equulus. We obtained a monophyletic phylogenetic tree for Leiognathids with two major clades. One major clade contained only Gazza, and Eubleekeria, Karalla and Leiognathus, were grouped under another clade. Genus Leiognathus, which is not sexually dimorphic, get clustered as a separate sub-clade. Thus COI gene sequence could be used for species identification and delineation of complex groups like Leiognathids.   DNA Barcoding, COI, Genetic variation, Leiognathidae, Phylogeny 41 50 http://injbir.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1-3&slc_lang=fa&sid=1 V.G. Anil Kumar 100319475328460062 100319475328460062 No Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu - 608 502, India. A. Kartick 100319475328460063 100319475328460063 No Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu - 608 502, India. M. Thangaraj 100319475328460064 100319475328460064 Yes Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu - 608 502, India.