RESEARCH ARTICLE

DNA barcoding and taxonomic notes on the genus Macolor (Perciformes: Lutjanidae) from Indian waters

N. Vineesh, C. Mohitha, K.K. Bineesh, Rahul G. Kumar, A. Gopalakrishnan & V.S. Basheer

Abstract

The DNA “barcode”, the partial sequence of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI), was assessed for species identification within the genus Macolor. The Midnight Snapper, Macolor macularis Fowler 1931, is compared with its only congener, the Black and White Snapper, Macolor niger (Forsskål 1775), both collected from the south-west coast of India. The examination of fresh specimens of the two species showed diagnostic anatomical and coloration differences and the DNA barcoding showed a genetic divergence of 3.51% between the species. We provide a description and illustrations of DNA-barcoded specimens, assess the reliability of some key marking characters for the two species, and document the DNA barcodes for Indian specimens