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

• Published in: Genetics and molecular biology Vol. 43; no. 1; p. e20190131
• Main Authors: Bignotto, Thaís Souto, Maniglia, Thiago Cintra, Gomes, Vivian Nunes, Oliveira, Isadora Janolio de, Agostinho, Carlos Sérgio, Prioli, Sônia Maria Alves Pinto, Prioli, Alberto José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Genetica 01.01.2020; Sociedade Brasileira de Genética
• Subjects: Basins; Bayesian analysis; BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY; cryptic species; Cytochrome; Cytochrome b; Cytochrome c oxidase I; Cytochrome-c oxidase; Cytochromes; D-loop; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Differentiation; DNA; Gene sequencing; Genetic analysis; Genetic variability; GENETICS & HEREDITY; Genomics and Bioinformatics; Mitochondrial DNA; Nucleotide sequence; Phylogeny; Population genetics; Populations; River basins; Rivers; Serrasalmus maculatus; Species; species delimitation; Species diversity; Paraguay; Paraguay River; species delimitation; Cytochrome b; D-loop; Cytochrome c oxidase I; cryptic species
• ISSN: 1415-4757; 1678-4685; 1678-4685
• DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-GMB-2018-0131

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 clustered S. maculatus populations according to their locations. However, the highest genetic differentiation was identified between populations from Paraná-Paraguay system and Tocantins River basin. Three species delimitation analyses (PTP, GMYC, and ABGD) suggested that there are at least two species among the analyzed populations. The analysis of the mitochondrial sequences evidenced genetic differentiation among populations corresponding to related, but different species, suggesting that at least S. maculatus from the Tocantins River and Paraná-Paraguay River basins are most likely different species. Therefore, S. maculatus should be considered a species complex with morphologically cryptic diversity. An integrative revision is suggested.