A Genetic Approach to the Difference of Misidentified Pangasius nasutus and Pangasius conchophilus
Amir Asyraf Zainudin(a), Aisyah Jamaludin(a), Rozihan Mohamed(a), Yuzine Esa(a,b)

(a) Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
(b) International Institute of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Abstract

Pangasiids is one of important aquaculture species in Malaysia. Pangasiids includes riverine catfishes that mostly live in freshwater habitats but some of which can also be found in brackish and marine environments. Pangasius nasutus and Pangasius conchophilus has similar appearances that cause confusion to identify the species. Pangasius nasutus is native species of Malaysia and Pangasius conchophilus are introduced species that were imported by the Cambodiants originally. These two species have been found sharing the same habitat by the local fisherman. This is an alarming sign for conservation of indigenous species. Thus, the aim of this study to determine genetic differences of Pangasius nasutus and Pangasius conchophilus and the genetic diversity of Pangasius conchophilus at Pahang River, Malaysia. A total of 124 samples were obtained from five sites along the Pahang River, which is Pekan, Maran, Jerantut, Temerloh and Lipis within the guidance of the local fisherman. We identify the species by using universal barcode gene Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1) gene. 59 of the samples are Pangasius nasutus and 65 of the samples are Pangasius conchophilus. The total of haplotype samples for Pangasius nasutus are 6 and Pangasius conchophilus has 11 haplotypes. Besides, phylogenetic analysis using Neighbor-Joining (NJ) also divided the two species into two clades. Genetic distance between two species that were calculated using MEGA show was low indicates that close genetic distance.

Keywords: Pangasius nasutus, Pangasius conchophilus, phylogenetic, mitochondrial DNA COI, genomic

Topic: Aquatic Ecology and Conservation