Scholarlink

<p>The taxonomic distinction between <i>Pethia atra</i> and <i>Pethia khugae</i>, two cyprinid species described from the Chindwin Basin, Manipur, India, remains unresolved due to overlapping morphological traits. This study employs an integrative taxonomic framework, combining morphometric, meristic, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene analyses to evaluate their species status. Morphometric assessments, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA), revealed substantial overlap in diagnostic characters between the two species. A critical re-evaluation of the Relative Gut Length (RGL), also revealed extensive overlap between the two nominal species. Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis of COI sequences, coupled with species delimitation approaches [Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD)], identified a single Molecular Operational Taxonomic Unit (MOTU) encompassing both taxa. The genetic divergence (K2P distance) between <i>P. atra</i> and <i>P. khugae</i> was minimal (0.3%), falling well below species-level differentiation thresholds. These results indicate that <i>P. khugae</i> does not constitute a distinct evolutionary lineage but rather represents a junior synonym of <i>P. atra</i>. This taxonomic resolution has critical implications for biodiversity assessment and conservation prioritization within the Chindwin Basin.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Integrative Taxonomic Evidence Suggests Pethia khugae as a Junior Synonym of Pethia atra (Linthoingambi & Vishwanath, 2007) from the Chindwin Basin, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月16日

查看全文
  • Mukesh Kumar Singh,
  • Thangjam Nirupada Chanu,
  • H. S. Mogalekar,
  • H. N. Anjanayappa,
  • Basanta Kumar Das,
  • Suman Kumari,
  • Archana Sinha,
  • Kavita Kumari

摘要

The taxonomic distinction between Pethia atra and Pethia khugae, two cyprinid species described from the Chindwin Basin, Manipur, India, remains unresolved due to overlapping morphological traits. This study employs an integrative taxonomic framework, combining morphometric, meristic, and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene analyses to evaluate their species status. Morphometric assessments, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA), revealed substantial overlap in diagnostic characters between the two species. A critical re-evaluation of the Relative Gut Length (RGL), also revealed extensive overlap between the two nominal species. Maximum Likelihood (ML) phylogenetic analysis of COI sequences, coupled with species delimitation approaches [Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD)], identified a single Molecular Operational Taxonomic Unit (MOTU) encompassing both taxa. The genetic divergence (K2P distance) between P. atra and P. khugae was minimal (0.3%), falling well below species-level differentiation thresholds. These results indicate that P. khugae does not constitute a distinct evolutionary lineage but rather represents a junior synonym of P. atra. This taxonomic resolution has critical implications for biodiversity assessment and conservation prioritization within the Chindwin Basin.