Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science
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Pertanika · Universiti Putra Malaysia Press

Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science

Official journal of Universiti Putra Malaysia for peer-reviewed research across tropical agriculture and allied agricultural sciences.

e-ISSN 2231-8542 ISSN 1511-3701
Research article

Molecular Systematics of Mahseers (Cyprinidae) in Malaysia Inferred from Sequencing of a Mitochondrial Cytochrome C Oxidase I (COI) Gene

Yuzine B. Esa, Siti Shapor Siraj, Siti Khalijah Daud, Japning Jeffrine Rovie Ryan, Khairul Adha A. Rahim and Soon Guan, Tan

KeywordsFreshwater fish, Mahseers, COI, molecular systematics
Article content

Abstract

This study examined the molecular systematics among three Mahseers (Tor douronensis, Tor tambroides and Neolissochilus stracheyi) using partial sequencing of a Cytochrome C Oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial DNA segment (466bp). The phylogenetic results using the Neighbour-Joining (NJ) method supported the monophyletic status (hence the taxonomic status) among the three putative Mahseer species. The close genetic relationships (0.1- 0.4%) found between T. tambroides samples from Peninsular Malaysia (kelah fish) and those from Sarawak (empurau fish) also supported their classification as belonging to the same species. The phylogenetic analysis also showed that the T. douronensis mtDNA consisted of three highly distinct lineages supported by high bootstrap values, with the Sabah samples forming its own cluster. Thus, this phylogenetic study, although based on a limited number of samples and only a single mtDNA gene managed to provide useful insights into the systematic status of the Mahseers found in Malaysia.