Abstract
A new record ponyfish, Deveximentum megalolepis Mochizuki and Hayashi, 1989, was documented based on its morphological characteristics and DNA barcode. Fifty specimens were collected from Beibu Gulf of China and identified as D. megalolepis by morphological characterization. The coloration, meristic traits, and morphometric measurements were consistent with previously published records. In general, it is a silver-white, laterally compressed and deep bodied ponyfish with 6–9 rows of scales on cheek; scale rows above lateral line 6–8; scale rows below lateral line 14–17. Mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I subunit (COI) gene fragment was sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. There is no sequence variation of COI gene between the specimens collected in this study. The genetic distances between D. megalolepis and other congeneric species range from 3.6% to 14.0%, which were greater than the threshold for fish species delimitation. The COI sequence analysis also supported the validity of D. megalolepis at genetic level. However, the genetic distance between Chinese and Philippine individuals was about 1.2% and they formed two lineages in gene tree, which may be caused by the geographical distance.
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Acknowledgements
We appreciate the valuable instruction of Dr. S. Kimura in the identification of D. megalolepis. We are also deeply indebted to Mr. B. B. Shan for collecting the samples from Beibu Gulf. We are grateful to Dr. Z. M. Wang for offering the assistance with the paper writing. The study was supported by the Special Fund for Agroscientific Research in the Public Interest (201303048).
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Ju, Y., Song, N., Chen, G. et al. A new record of ponyfish Deveximentum megalolepis (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) in Beibu Gulf of China. J. Ocean Univ. China 16, 468–472 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-017-3185-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-017-3185-z