Molecular phylogeny of Gobiidae from Iran

Gobiidae is the most species-rich family of teleost fishes, with approximately 1915 valid species belonging to 263 genera. This family is composed of five subfamilies, including Sicydiinae, Gobionellinae, Oxudercinae, Amblyopinae, Gobiinae. 24 species from 19 genera of Gobiidae have been reported in Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The aim of the present study is to survey phylogenetic relationships of Gobiidae representatives from Iran using 64 sequences (Rhodopsin, Rag1 and COI markers) belong to 21 species. In this study, specimens from Bathygobius meggitti (Chabahar, sequenced for Rhodopsin), Stonogobiops nematodes, and Valenciennea strigata (Qeshm Island, sequenced for COI) have been examined for the first time. Gobiidae members recorded from Iran are classified in diverse molecular lineages including, Periophthalmus-lineage, Gobiopsis-lineage, Glossogobius-lineage, Cryptocentrus-lineage, Gobiodon-lineage and Valenciennea-lineage. Sequencing nuclear markers of all recorded species from the Iranian Southern water bodies and the Caspian Sea basin could determine more detail of molecular phylogenetic relationships of this family.