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Vol. 63, 2024
(update: 2024.7.3)
An Odyssey of Integrative
Taxonomy Unveils Marine Fish Diversity, New Records and Cryptic Species
in Malaysian Waters
Danial
Hariz Zainal Abidin1 , Siti Azizah Mohd. Nor2,6, Giat Seah Ying3,4, Mohd Sharol Ali3,
Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin6, Masazurah A Rahim5,
Nur Syafiqa Zulkifly3, Min Pau Tan2, Khaironizam Md Zain6, and Tun Nurul Aimi Mat
Jaafar3,*
doi:-
1Department
of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and
Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, 43600, Selangor,
Malaysia. E-mail: geneprodigy@gmail.com (Zainal Abidin)
2Institute of Climate Adaptation and Marine
Biotechnology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus,
Terengganu, Malaysia. E-mail: s.azizah@umt.edu.my (Nor);
mptan@umt.edu.my (Tan)
3Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti
Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
*Correspondence: E-mail: tun_aimi@umt.edu.my (Mat Jaafar)
E-mail: ygseah@umt.edu.my (Ying);
sharol@umt.edu.my (Ali); nursyafiqazulkifly97@gmail.com (Zulkifly);
tun_aimi@umt.edu.my (Mat Jaafar)
4South China Sea Repository & Reference Centre,
Institute Oceanography and Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
5Fisheries Research Institute, 11960, Batu Maung,
Penang, Malaysia. E-mail: masazurah@dof.gov.my (A Rahim)
6School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains
Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia. E-mail: jamsari_85@yahoo.com
(Jamaluddin); khaironizam@usm.my (Md Zain)
(Received 27 December 2023 /
Accepted 26 June 2024 / Published -- 2024)
Communicated by Ryuji Machida
This study elucidates the species
diversity of marine fishes in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of
Peninsular Malaysia (PM) using an integrative approach combining DNA
barcoding and morphological identification. Our focus was on demersal
surveys conducted on the east coast of PM in the South China Sea. We
re-evaluated the diversity of 475 specimens across 93 putative species
(92 barcoded morphospecies), from 16 orders and 41 families, including
two IUCN vulnerable species. A total of two species - Saurida isarankurai and Oxyurichthys auchenolepis are
presented as new record and three species - Nemipterus balinensoides, Gymnothorax reevesii and Synodus hoshinonis as first specimen-based
record in Malaysian waters. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence analyses delineated
95 consensus Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs), exceeding
morphological diversity. Interestingly, the barcode analysis revealed
several MOTUs delimited within one morphologically identified fish
species, with both intraspecific and interspecific genetic divergences
exceeding 2%, indicating substantial intraspecific genetic divergence
within species groups or the existence of morphologically cryptic
species within our dataset. These findings highlight the complexity of
species delimitation and the value of genetic methods. Our study
provides valuable insights into marine fish diversity from the east
coast of Peninsular Malaysia and enhances our understanding of genetic
diversity, distribution, and conservation needs of ecosystems through
DNA barcoding. By integrating DNA barcoding with morphology, we present
a comprehensive framework for future research to develop conservation
and management strategies for Malaysia’s marine biodiversity. The
expansion of the genetic barcode database generated in this study will
facilitate future molecular taxonomy research.
Key words: Peninsular Malaysia, DNA barcoding,
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), South China Sea, Marine fishes, Demersal
survey, Cryptic species
Citation: Zainal Abidin DH, Nor SAM, Ying
GS, Ali MS, Jamaluddin JAF, A Rahim M, Zulkifly NS, Tan MP, Md Zain K,
Mat Jaafar TNA. 2024. An Odyssey of Integrative Taxonomy Unveils Marine
Fish Diversity, New Records and Cryptic Species in Malaysian Waters.
Zool Stud 63:30.
Supplementary
materials: Table S1丨Table S2
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