Genetic evidence for a species complex within the piranha Serrasalmus maculatus (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) from three Neotropical river basins based on mitochondrial DNA sequences.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial molecular markers (DNA sequences of D-loop, cytochrome b and cytochrome c oxidase I) were employed to characterize populations of the piranha Serrasalmus maculatus from Upper Paraná, Upper Paraguay and Tocantins River basins. D-loop sequences of S. maculatus population from Paraná-Paraguay River basin exhibited tandem repeats of short motifs (12 base pairs) and variable numbers depending on specimens, accounting for length variation. Concatenated mitochondrial sequences suggested that S. maculatus encompasses different mitochondrial DNA lineages. Although sampling was restricted to three river basins, phylogenetic analysis clearly indicated that the species currently recognized as S. maculatus presents high genetic variability. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis cluster

SUBMITTER: Bignotto TS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7231549 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature