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<p>The Philippine tigerperches are important fishery resources, yet several species are difficult to distinguish morphologically, leading to frequent misidentification. In this study, we applied DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial cytochrome<i> c</i> oxidase I gene (<i>COI</i>) to validate species identities and delineate eight tigerperches found in the Philippines, namely: the endemic species <i>Leiopotherapon plumbeus</i>; the native species <i>Terapon jarbua</i>, <i>T. puta</i>, <i>T. theraps</i>, <i>Pelates quadrilineatus</i>, <i>Helotes sexlineatus</i>, and <i>Mesopristes cancellatus</i>; and the introduced species <i>Bidyanus bidyanus</i>. We generated 184 <i>COI</i> sequences and analyzed these together with 264 publicly available tigerperch sequences. Species clustering was assessed through neighbor-joining analysis, and genetic distances were computed using the Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model. All sequences were grouped according to species designation. <i>Terapon jarbua</i> showed K2P distances of 0–9.85% (mean 2.01%) and formed four distinct clusters, supporting earlier proposals that <i>T. jarbua</i> represents a species complex. <i>Terapon puta</i> exhibited K2P distances of 0–4.90% (mean 2.08%) and separated into three geographic clusters across Asia, suggesting that it may comprise two species. Our results also clarified the long-standing taxonomic confusion between <i>H. sexlineatus</i> and <i>Pelates sexlineatus</i>. These taxa formed separate, well-supported clusters with a mean K2P distance of 13.57%, confirming that they are distinct, valid species rather than synonyms. Overall, DNA barcoding proved effective in delineating Philippine terapontids and uncovering cryptic diversity. We recommend a formal taxonomic reassessment of <i>H. sexlineatus</i> and <i>P. sexlineatus</i>, and of <i>T. jarbua</i> and <i>T. puta</i>, as our findings indicate overlooked cryptic species in the latter two, with implications for fisheries management and biodiversity assessment.</p>

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DNA barcoding of the Philippine tigerperches (Centrarchiformes: Terapontidae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月30日

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  • Raisa Mikaelle G. Castillo,
  • Onaya Abdulmalik-Labe,
  • Reynand Jay C. Canoy,
  • Jonas P. Quilang

摘要

The Philippine tigerperches are important fishery resources, yet several species are difficult to distinguish morphologically, leading to frequent misidentification. In this study, we applied DNA barcoding using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I gene (COI) to validate species identities and delineate eight tigerperches found in the Philippines, namely: the endemic species Leiopotherapon plumbeus; the native species Terapon jarbua, T. puta, T. theraps, Pelates quadrilineatus, Helotes sexlineatus, and Mesopristes cancellatus; and the introduced species Bidyanus bidyanus. We generated 184 COI sequences and analyzed these together with 264 publicly available tigerperch sequences. Species clustering was assessed through neighbor-joining analysis, and genetic distances were computed using the Kimura 2-parameter (K2P) model. All sequences were grouped according to species designation. Terapon jarbua showed K2P distances of 0–9.85% (mean 2.01%) and formed four distinct clusters, supporting earlier proposals that T. jarbua represents a species complex. Terapon puta exhibited K2P distances of 0–4.90% (mean 2.08%) and separated into three geographic clusters across Asia, suggesting that it may comprise two species. Our results also clarified the long-standing taxonomic confusion between H. sexlineatus and Pelates sexlineatus. These taxa formed separate, well-supported clusters with a mean K2P distance of 13.57%, confirming that they are distinct, valid species rather than synonyms. Overall, DNA barcoding proved effective in delineating Philippine terapontids and uncovering cryptic diversity. We recommend a formal taxonomic reassessment of H. sexlineatus and P. sexlineatus, and of T. jarbua and T. puta, as our findings indicate overlooked cryptic species in the latter two, with implications for fisheries management and biodiversity assessment.