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Mitochondrial 12S rRNA sequences support the existence of a third species of freshwater blackfish (Percicthyidae: Gadopsis) from south-eastern Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2004-01-01, 00:00 authored by Adam MillerAdam Miller, G Waggy, S Ryan, Chris AustinChris Austin
Fish of the genus Gadopsis are a distinctive component of the freshwater fish fauna of south-eastern Australia. Gadopsis marmoratus and G. bispinosus are the only two species recognised within the genus, with the former of uncertain taxonomic status, as it is thought to be composed of at least two distinct geographical forms based on morphological and allozyme data. The objective of this study was to investigate DNA sequence divergence in Gadopsis, especially in the western portion of its distribution, using an approximately 400 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial small subunit 12S rRNA gene region in order to reassess the taxonomy of the genus. Individuals from 11 locations were sequenced and confirm that G. marmoratus and G. bispinosus are genetically distinct, and further that the G. marmoratus complex consists of two divergent clades representing the previously identified northern and southern forms. The degree of divergence between the three Gadopsis clades was similar (5–6% nucleotide substitutions), suggesting that they diverged from a common ancestor at approximately the same period in geological time. These results are consistent with previous allozyme studies and highlight the usefulness of mitochondrial DNA data coupled with allozyme information for clarifying taxonomic boundaries in morphologically conservative aquatic organisms.

History

Journal

Memoirs of Museum Victoria

Volume

61

Issue

2

Pagination

121 - 127

Publisher

Museum Victoria

Location

Melbourne, Vic.

ISSN

1447-2546

eISSN

1447-2554

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

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