Morphological and molecular evidence for range extension and first occurrence of the Japanese seahorse, Hippocampus mohnikei (Bleeker 1853) in a bay-estuarine system of Goa, central west coast of India

Accurate information of taxonomy and distribution range of seahorse species (genus Hippocampus) is the first step in preparing threat assessments and designing effective conservation measures. Here, we report the range expansion and first occurrence of the Japanse seahorse, Hippocampus mohnkei (Blee...

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Published inbioRxiv
Main Authors Sanaye, Sushant Vilas, Khandeparker, Rakhee Ds, Anantha Sreepada Rayadurga, Shivaram, Mamatha Singanahalli, Kankonkar, Harshada, Narvekar, Jayu, Gaunthankar, Mukul
Format Paper
LanguageEnglish
Published Cold Spring Harbor Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press 28.01.2020
Subjects
Cytochrome
Cytochrome b
Dispersal
Genetic distance
Hippocampus mohnikei
Mitochondria
Morphology
Range extension
Species
Taxonomy
Vagrants
Vietnam
Japan
India
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Summary:Accurate information of taxonomy and distribution range of seahorse species (genus Hippocampus) is the first step in preparing threat assessments and designing effective conservation measures. Here, we report the range expansion and first occurrence of the Japanse seahorse, Hippocampus mohnkei (Bleeker, 1853) from the Mandovi esturaine ecosystem of Goa, central west coast of India (CWCI) based on morpho-molecularanalyses. The morphometric and meristic traits particularly, short snout length (29-35% head length), double cheek spine, low coronet and long tail (51.2-57.9% of standard length), 11 trunk rings, 37-39 tail rings, 15-16 dorsal and 12-14 fin rays observed in four collected specimens matched with the reported key diagnostic morphologival criteria of vouchered specimens of H. mohnkei. The seahorse mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b (Cyt b) genes were partially sequenced for conclusive genetic identification of the species under study. Molecular analysis showed that all four individuals of seahorse species clustered together suggesting a monophyletic lineage. Using the maximum similarity with GenBank database, maximum likelihood network and subsequent morphological analysis, the identity of the collected seahorse species was reconfirmed as H. mohnikei. With this new report, the geographic range of H. mohnikei extended significantly to the westward side from its previously known range. This new sighting of H. mohnikei could indicate a long-distance dispersal facilitated by due to prevailing oceanic circulation in the Indo-Pacific region or increased habitat suitability in bay-estuarine systems of Goa, CWCI. Comparison of the pair-wise genetic distances (Kimura 2-parameter) based on COI and Cyt b sequences revealed that the specimens examined in this study are genetically closer to H. mohnikei populations from Vietnam and Thailand than they are to those in Japan and China. To test the hypothesis whether H. mohnikei are vagrants or previously unreported established population, long-term inter-annual sampling and analyses are warranted. Footnotes * The manuscript has been revbised incorporating the changes as suggested by the Reviwers
DOI:10.1101/705814