Genetic Identification Method for Two Subspecies of the Indonesian Short-Finned Eel, Anguilla Bicolor, using an Allelic Discrimination Technique

• Published in: Zoological Studies Vol. 53; no. 9; pp. b1 - 7
• Main Authors: Tanaka, Chikaya, Shirotori, Fumiaki, Sato, Masaki, Ishikawa, Mina, Shinoda, Akira, Aoyama, Jun, Yoshinaga, Tatsuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg 中央研究院生物多樣性研究中心 14.09.2014; Springer Berlin Heidelberg
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Zoology; Allelic discrimination; Genetic identification; Anguilla bicolor; Red list; Indonesian short-finned eel
• ISSN: 1021-5506; 1810-522X; 1810-522X
• DOI: 10.1186/s40555-014-0057-8

Background There is an increasing pressure on tropical species of the freshwater eel genus Anguilla for use in aquaculture, so species identification methods are needed to monitor these activities and to facilitate conservation efforts. A method was developed to genetically distinguish two subspecies of the Indonesian short-finned eel, Anguilla bicolor , based on an allelic discrimination technique. Results A single DNA nucleotide substitution in the mitochondrial DNA 16S rRNA gene was employed to identify the two subspecies where Anguilla bicolor bicolor and Anguilla bicolor pacifica possessed adenine and guanine, respectively. This substitution was highly conserved at 100% in A. bicolor bicolor (108/108) and 99.9% in A. bicolor pacifica (181/182), and the misidentification rate was estimated to be 0.34%. Subsequently, fluorescent-labeled oligo probes and PCR primers were designed and succeeded to clearly distinguish the two subspecies. Further, the other ten anguillid species that may be sympatrically distributed with A. bicolor showed negative results. Conclusions The method developed in this study is useful to accurately identify the two subspecies of A. bicolor and can contribute to ecological studies, stock management, and conservation.