Study on phylogenetic of Alburnoides namaki Bogutskaya and Coad, 2009 using COI gene

The members of the genus Alburnoides, a member of cyprinids, have very similar external morphology which make their identification difficult. Therefore, application of the modern techniques such as genetic markers can help better understanding of their taxonomic status. In the present study, DNA barcoding method was used to identify taxonomic statue of Namak spirlin, Alburnoides namaki. For this purpose, the specimens of this species were collected from the Qara-Chai and Ab-kamar rivers (Namak Lake basin) using electrofishing device. Then, DNA barcoding of this species was reported and phylogenetic relationships of the members of this genus in Iran were reconstructed. Based on the DNA barcoding results, the validity and identification of this species that has been described based on the morphological characters, were confirmed. According to the results, the highest and lowest genetic distances were calculated between A. namaki and A. holciki, and A. namaki and A. coadi with 6.67% and 0.53%, respectively, suggesting A. coadi as junior synonym of A. namaki. The results also revealed that COI sequence can be used to identify and reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships in the members of the genus Alburnoides.