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Cryptic diversity in flathead fishes ( S corpaeniformes: P latycephalidae) across the I ndo‐ W est P acific uncovered by DNA barcoding
Author(s) -
Puckridge Melody,
Andreakis Nikos,
Appleyard Sharon A.,
Ward Robert D.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
molecular ecology resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.96
H-Index - 136
eISSN - 1755-0998
pISSN - 1755-098X
DOI - 10.1111/1755-0998.12022
Subject(s) - biology , flathead , dna barcoding , identification (biology) , intraspecific competition , evolutionary biology , taxon , taxonomy (biology) , genetic diversity , biodiversity , zoology , ecology , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , population , demography , sociology
Identification of taxonomical units underpins most biological endeavours ranging from accurate biodiversity estimates to the effective management of sustainably harvested, protected or endangered species. Successful species identification is now frequently based on a combination of approaches including morphometrics and DNA markers. Sequencing of the mitochondrial COI gene is an established methodology with an international campaign directed at barcoding all fishes. We employed COI sequencing alongside traditional taxonomic identification methods and uncovered instances of deep intraspecific genetic divergences among flathead species. Sixty‐five operational taxonomic units ( OTU s) were observed across the I ndo‐ W est P acific from just 48 currently recognized species. The most comprehensively sampled taxon, P latycephalus indicus , exhibited the highest levels of genetic diversity with eight lineages separated by up to 16.37% genetic distance. Our results clearly indicate a thorough reappraisal of the current taxonomy of P . indicus (and its three junior synonyms) is warranted in conjunction with detailed taxonomic work on the other additional P latycephalidae OTU s detected by DNA barcoding.