http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5786-0314
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ABSTRACT
The Persian Gulf and Oman Sea constitute one of the most important marine ecosystems and have many economically important aquatic species, including several coleoid cephalopods. Some coleoids are difficult to identify using traditional morphological characteristics. In this study, two mitochondrial fragments, cytochrome oxidase I (COI) and the large ribosomal subunit (16S rRNA), were used for identification of coleoid species in four regions in the northern Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. The study led to the identification of potential cryptic species of Sepia, Amphioctopus and Uroteuthis. Furthermore, Euprymna hyllebergi was reported for the first time from the Persian Gulf. A high diversity of Coeloidea was found in the study area. Mean intraspecific and interspecific nucleotide distances for COI were 0%–2% and 2%–7%, respectively, while these values for 16S rRNA sequences were 0%–1% and 1%–4%. Given the uncertainty about species identity and the high levels of intraspecific genetic diversity reported for some species in GenBank, a comprehensive global study will be needed to resolve the taxonomic status of several coleoid species.
Acknowledgements
We would like to express our gratitude to Farhad Kaymaram and Arash Bagheri for their valuable comments and advice. We would also like to thank Don Colgan and an anonymous reviewer for constructive comments and views on the manuscript.
Author contribution: study design: SK, TV, PT, FA, AF; sample collection: SK, TV, PT; performing experiments: SK, PT; data analysis: AF, FA; writing manuscript: AF, FA, SK.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
ORCID
Frank E. Anderson http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5786-0314