Molecular analysis of the recently described lizardfish Saurida lessepsianus (Synodontidae) from the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, with remarks on its phylogeny and genetic bottleneck effect. Issue 4 (20th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tikochinski, Yaron; Russell, Barry; Hyams, Yossi; Motro, Uzi; Golani, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Marine biology research. Volume 12:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 419
• Page End: 425
• Publication Date: 2016-04-20
• Subjects: Michael Mincarone; Bottleneck effect -- Lessepsian migration -- mitochondrial DNA D-loop -- Saurida lessepsianus; Marine biology -- Periodicals; Marine biology -- North Atlantic Ocean -- Periodicals; 578.7705
• DOI: 10.1080/17451000.2016.1148821
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-1000

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 led to a massive influx of Red Sea species that invaded the Mediterranean; this was termed 'Lessepsian migration'. Among these species was a species of lizardfish, identified by some authors as Saurida undosquamis and by others as S. macrolepis . Recently, the Red Sea and the Mediterranean populations were described according to external characteristics as a unique taxon, Saurida lessepsianus . Our molecular study confirms this finding and determines that all previous records of S. undosquamis and S. macrolepis in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean are misidentifications of S. lessepsianus . The Mediterranean population of S. lessepsianus exhibits a lower genetic variability than that of the Red Sea population, suggesting a bottleneck effect.