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Molecular and morphological evidence for the identity of the giant mottled eel, Anguilla marmorata in Southeast Asia

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Abstract

Tropical anguillid eels account for two-thirds of all species in the genus Anguilla, however information on the species diversity, biogeography, and life histories is very limited. The anguillid eels found in Southeast Asian waters, i.e. Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam were identified using molecular genetic analysis after morphological observation. This is the first record of the occurrence of A. marmorata in Thailand and Vietnam that was confirmed by both morphological and molecular genetic analyses. The molecular phylogenetic tree and the haplotype network of A. marmorata in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam suggested that the eel might be transported from the western North Pacific spawning area. We also propose possible dispersion and migration of A. marmorata into Southeast Asian waters.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Azie Azri for her assistance in the laboratory work. This work was supported by Universiti Brunei Darussalam under the Competitive Research Grant Scheme (no. UBD/OVACRI/CRGWG(003)).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam

    Takaomi Arai, Hussein Taha, Mohammed Nurajiman Mohd-Riduan & Siti Shazwani Azreena Mokti

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  1. Takaomi Arai
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  2. Hussein Taha
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  3. Mohammed Nurajiman Mohd-Riduan
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  4. Siti Shazwani Azreena Mokti
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Correspondence to Takaomi Arai.

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Arai, T., Taha, H., Mohd-Riduan, M.N. et al. Molecular and morphological evidence for the identity of the giant mottled eel, Anguilla marmorata in Southeast Asia. Trop Ecol 61, 429–436 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-020-00096-4

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