Integrative taxonomy of the featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) in Peninsular Malaysia

Ruzman, Luqman Hakim and Jamaluddin, Jamsari Amirul Firdaus and Muhammad-Rasul, Abdullah Halim and Sukmono, Tedjo and Khaironizam, Md. Zain and Lavoue, Sebastien (2024) Integrative taxonomy of the featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Zoologica Scripta, 53 (5). pp. 523-540. ISSN 0300-3256, DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12678.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/zsc.12678

Abstract

The taxonomy of the freshwater featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) remains unsettled because delimiting and naming Chitala species based solely on morphology led to different hypotheses. In this study, we aim to determine the number and identity of Chitala species present in Peninsular Malaysia by employing an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphology and two mitochondrial markers: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b genes. A total of 60 specimens of Chitala were collected throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Initially, all specimens were sorted into three distinct categories based on their body marking patterns. A molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that each of these groups was monophyletic, and an automated species partition method further recognized them as distinct species. These results support the presence of three Chitala species in Peninsular Malaysia, even though a multivariate morphometric analysis failed to fully differentiate each of these three species. Comparison with original species descriptions and genetic data from an additional 70 Chitala specimens from neighbouring regions allowed us to name these species as Chitala lopis, Chitala borneensis, and Chitala ornata. We also showed the presence of two undescribed species in Indonesia.

Item Type: Article
Funders: UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords: Chitala; integrative taxonomy; morphology; Southeast Asia; species delimitation
Subjects: Q Science > Q Science (General)
Q Science > QH Natural history
Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions: Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) Office > Tropical Infectious Diseases Research and Education Centre
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 16 Jan 2025 02:19
Last Modified: 16 Jan 2025 02:19
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/46878

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