Molecular data from the cytochrome b for the phylogeny of channidae (Channa sp.) in Malaysia

Abstract

Snakeheads are freshwater fish which are distributed wildly in Asia and Africa. In Malaysia, Channa genus were identified in six species named Charma lucius, C. striata, C. micropeltes, C. gachua, C. marulioides and C. melasoma. In previous studies, Channa species were mainly classified based on morphology. Phylogenetic relationships from 36 individuals of 6 Channa species distributing in Malaysia were analyzed over the sequence of cytochrome b gene. Primers named forward Ll 4841 and reverse H15149 amplified the gene. The results indicated that the species belonged to two major clades. The first clades was only C. lucius. The second clade comprised of species named C. striata, C. micropeltes, C. gachua, C. marulioides and C. melasoma. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information.