Hagfishes of Taiwan (II): Taxonomy as Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Diversity
Kao-Feng Huanq
Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Hin-Kiu Mok
Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Pien-Chien Huanq
Department of Biochemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MO 21205, USA
Current: College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300, R.O.C.
Parallel studies based on morphological characteristics suggest the classification of four new higfish species (Kuo et al. 1994). We compared restriction patterns of hagfish mitochondrial DNA and found that two species (Paramyxine sheni and P. wisneri) have homologous but distinct mitochondrial genomes in contrast to other species in this genus. However, P. sheni individuals display a high frequency of heteroplasmy. Thus there is agreement between morphological and molecular taxonomic classifications of hagfish.
Keywords
Hagfish, Paramyxine, Mitochondrial DNA, Phylogeny, Taiwan
