Genetic variation of striped snakehead fish (Channa striata) in river basin of central thailand inferred from mtDNA COI gene sequences analysis

Abstract

Genetic variation of striped snakehead fish (Channa striata) was examined using nucleotide sequence analysis of 396 bp in mitochondriaCytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) of 66 samples collected from 7 natural populations in river basin of central Thailand. Sequencingof 396 bp COI fragments revealed the presence of 33 haplotypes with haplotype diversity value of 0.976 and nucleotide diversity valueof 0.01810. Population specific haplotypes were observed for 19 haplotypes in samples from Lopburi (7 haplotypes), Singburi(5 haplotypes), Kamphaeng Phet (3 haplotypes) and Phichit (4 haplotypes) and shared population haplotypes were observed for14 haplotypes in samples from Ayutthaya, Angthong, Lopburi, Singburi and Suphanburi. High genetic variability in each population wererevealed from their haplotype and nucleotide diversity values. Median-joining network demonstrated that haplotype clades were notcorresponding to the geographic distribution of this species. The present results suggest a high genetic variability of striped snakeheadfish in this area, probably due to high gene flow between regional populations due to fish dispersal by flood and aquaculture. The newlyobtained sequences are a valuable addition to the database relevant for identification of Channa species in the future.