Molecular analysis of the recently described lizardfish Saurida lessepsianus (Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, with remarks on its phylogeny and genetic bottleneck effect

ABSTRACT

The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to a massive influx of Red Sea species that invaded the Mediterranean; this was termed ‘Lessepsian migration'. Among these species was a species of lizardfish, identified by some authors as Saurida undosquamis and by others as S. macrolepis. Recently, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean populations were described according to external characteristics as a unique taxon, Saurida lessepsianus. Our molecular study confirms this finding and determines that all previous records of S. undosquamis and S. macrolepis in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean are misidentifications of S. lessepsianus. The Mediterranean population of S. lessepsianus exhibits a lower genetic variability than that of the Red Sea population, suggesting a bottleneck effect.

RESPONSIBLE EDITOR:

• Michael Mincarone

KEYWORDS:

• Bottleneck effect
• Lessepsian migration
• mitochondrial DNA D-loop
• Saurida lessepsianus

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.