Epinephelus moara: a valid species of the family Epinephelidae (Pisces: Perciformes)

Abstract

This study documents the major external and internal morphological differences between Epinephelus bruneus and Epinephelus moara, and analyses the complete mitogenomes of both species. The partial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (coI) sequence divergence between E. bruneus and E. moara is significantly higher than specimens within the same species (P < 0·05). Analyses of gene flow (Nm = 0·02) and genetic differentiation (ϕst = 0·92995, P > 0·05) reveal reproductive isolation between E. bruneus and E. moara. These results support the hypothesis that E. moara is a valid species. Further molecular comparisons between E. bruneus and E. moara obtained in this study and a specimen identified in GenBank as E. bruneus from South Korea reveal that the latter is identical to E. moara rather than to E. bruneus.

A Comprehensive Description and Evolutionary Analysis of 22 Grouper (Perciformes, Epinephelidae) Mitochondrial Genomes with Emphasis on Two Novel Genome Organizations

“…While five conserved sequence blocks (CSB-F to CSB-B) in the central conserved domain have been reported in mammalian mt CRs [49], only three (CSB-F to CSB-D) are typically found in teleosts [5,50,51]. Looking at these blocks in more detail, first CSB-F demarcates the boundary of ETAS region and central conserved domain.…”

“…Their evolutionary biology has been of continuing interest due in part to their biological diversity and apparent rapid sympatric speciation [1–3]. While many areas of their evolutionary biology are under active investigation, current understanding of the structure and evolution of the groupers’ mitochondrial (mt) genome is limited as few have been sequenced [4,5] and none have yet to be comprehensively described. This is of particular interest as the mt genome presents a simpler system than the nuclear genome for studying the molecular dynamics and mechanisms of rearrangements that underlie variations in the genome.…”

Molecular cytogenetic analyses ofEpinephelus bruneusandEpinephelus moara(Perciformes, Epinephelidae)

“…And the pyloric caeca indicates their different feeding habits and digestive function, which means they could have different ecological niches. Mitogenome and molecular comparisons confirmed E. moara to be a valid species of the family Epinephelidae (Liu et al, 2013). Further, we developed a molecular method to differentiate both fish species (Guo et al, 2009).…”

“…The interspecific differences between them were identified mainly based on the skeleton system as well as the meristic and morphometric characteristics (Guo et al, 2008). Gene differentiation (Guo et al, 2009) and mitogenome analyses (Liu et al, 2013) partially provided molecular information confirming their taxonomic status. Chromosomes are the carriers of genetic information, and chromosomal recombination plays a vital role in genetic diversity.…”

“…Designation of correctly identified new species is important not only to the study of phylogenetic relationships, but also to the identification of fry and parent in grouper aquaculture. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular comparisons, E. moara has been suggested as a valid species (Guo et al, 2008; Guo et al, 2009; Liu et al, 2013). The interspecific differences between them were identified mainly based on the skeleton system as well as the meristic and morphometric characteristics (Guo et al, 2008).…”