DNA barcoding of five species of groupers (Pisces: Serranidae) off Visakhapatnam, central eastern coast of India

Abstract

Grouper species of Epinephelus – E. epistictus, E. heniochus, E. latifasciatus, E. magniscuttis and E. radiatus exhibit overlapping colour pattern that often leads to misidentification in the field. Even the colour pattern of juveniles of these species in different size groups varies considerably with that of adults. DNA barcoding of these five species was carried out to reinforce our knowledge on existing taxonomic relationships derived based on morphological and biochemical genetic studies that were previously done from Indian waters. Mean interspecific genetic distance is in the range 0.079–0.164.The phylogeny tree revealed distinct clades for species that are in concurrence with previous taxonomic and allozyme electrophoretic studies carried out from central eastern coast of India. Barcode sequences generated for the first time for species E. heniochus from Indian waters for E. magniscuttis so far there are no reference sequences in GenBank.

Keywords:

• Cytochrome oxidase I
• DNA barcoding
• five Epinephelus species
• east coast of India

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Head, Department of Marine Living Resources, Andhra University, for providing facilities to carry out this research work. First and second authors are also grateful to University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for providing financial assistance for this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

First and second authors are also grateful to University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for providing financial assistance for this work.