Variation in morphology and D-loop sequences of Henicorhynchus sp.

Abstract

This study was aimed to compare morphological characteristics and D-loop sequences of Henicorhynchus sp. Fish specimens were collected in An Giang, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Long An (283 individuals) in 2019 and 2020. Morphological characteristics including meristic traits (number of spines and rays of fins) and morphometric indices (ratios to standard length or head length) were analyzed to test variations between sexes. COI and D-loop genes were used to analyze genetic variation among morphological groups. Morphologivcal results showed meristic traits are identical between two sex. Conversely, 10/24 morphometric indices vary significantly (P<0.05) between sex. In which, the morphometric indices in females have a significantly greater values (p <0.01) compared to those of males including fork length (FL) and body depth (BD), pre-anal distance (PAD), dorsal fin length (DFL), and pectoral fin length (PFL) and ventral fin length (VFL). Moreover, COI and D-loop genes are similar in levels of inter-specific and intra-specific genetic distance, resulting in Henicorhynchus sp. collected in 2019 and in this study 2020 is H. siamensis