Occurrence of dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) and pompano dolphinfish (Coryphaena equiselis) in the Canary Islands revealed by genetic analysis

Abstract

Genetic analyses of samples of the genus Coryphaena caught in the Canary Islands clearly revealed the existence of two different species, C. hippurus, Linnaeus 1758 and C. equiselis, Linnaeus 1758. Each species was fixed for different alleles at 11 out of 30 loci and a large genetic distance (0.814) was found between the two species. Previously only C. hippurus has been reported in the Canary Islands fishery. The two Coryphaena species are similar in appearance, so C. equiselis can be confused with C. hippurus by fishers, especially small specimens <70 cm fork length. The 11 exclusive alleles that characterise each species could be used as genetic markers to identify specimens and fillets of C. hippurus and C. equiselis.