Integrative taxonomy of the featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) in Peninsular Malaysia

The taxonomy of the freshwater featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) remains unsettled because delimiting and naming Chitala species based solely on morphology led to different hypotheses. In this study, we aim to determine the number and identity of Chitala species presen...

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Published inZoologica scripta Vol. 53; no. 5; pp. 523 - 540
Main Authors Ruzman, Luqman Hakim, Jamaluddin, Jamsari Amirul Firdaus, Muhammad‐Rasul, Abdullah Halim, Sukmono, Tedjo, Khaironizam, Md. Zain, Lavoué, Sébastien
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Oslo Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.09.2024
Subjects
Chitala
Chitala chitala
Cytochrome
Cytochrome b
Cytochrome-c oxidase
Cytochromes
Fish
Freshwater
Freshwater fish
Freshwater fishes
Genetic analysis
Inland water environment
integrative taxonomy
Morphology
Morphometry
Multivariate analysis
Notopteridae
Osteoglossomorpha
Pattern recognition
Phylogenetics
Phylogeny
Southeast Asia
Species
species delimitation
Taxonomy
Malaysia
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Summary:The taxonomy of the freshwater featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) remains unsettled because delimiting and naming Chitala species based solely on morphology led to different hypotheses. In this study, we aim to determine the number and identity of Chitala species present in Peninsular Malaysia by employing an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphology and two mitochondrial markers: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b genes. A total of 60 specimens of Chitala were collected throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Initially, all specimens were sorted into three distinct categories based on their body marking patterns. A molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that each of these groups was monophyletic, and an automated species partition method further recognized them as distinct species. These results support the presence of three Chitala species in Peninsular Malaysia, even though a multivariate morphometric analysis failed to fully differentiate each of these three species. Comparison with original species descriptions and genetic data from an additional 70 Chitala specimens from neighbouring regions allowed us to name these species as Chitala lopis, Chitala borneensis, and Chitala ornata. We also showed the presence of two undescribed species in Indonesia.
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ISSN:0300-3256
1463-6409
DOI:10.1111/zsc.12678