title: Morphological and molecular evidence of three species of pikes Esox spp. (Actinopterygii, Esocidae) in France, including the description of a new species.
abstract: This integrative taxonomy study of French pikes compares morphological characters and molecular sequence data (mitochondrial COI and nuclear Plagl2 genes). In addition to the expected E. lucius, DNA sequences and morphology both support a new species in France, E. aquitanicus sp. nov. from the Charente to the Adour drainages. It is characterized by a color pattern of sides with narrow 1-1.5-scale-wide oblique vertical bands, conferring it a marbled coat, a snout only 0.9 times larger than the postorbital length, an anal fin basis 1.1-1.2 times larger than the caudal peduncle length, 101 to 121 lateral scales, 53 to 57 vertebrae, as well as 24 diagnostic sites in the COI gene and 3 in the Plagl2 gene. Partial COI sequences (131 bp) from modern and historical specimens indicate also the presence of E. cisalpinus and E. lucius during the 19th century in Lake Geneva. Morphological and molecular data points to a possible hybridization between E. lucius with both other local pike species, representing a risk for them. Their endangerment status should be evaluated rapidly in order to take conservation measures.
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Département des milieux et peuplements aquatiques, UMR BOREA MNHN - CNRS 7208 - IRD 207 - UPMC, 57, rue Cuvier, CP26, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: gael.denys@mnhn.fr.
authors.forename: Gaël Pierre Julien
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Denys
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, département Systématique et Évolution, UMR ISYEB 7205 MNHN - CNRS - UPMC - EPHE, 57, rue Cuvier, CP26, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dettai
authors.affiliation: Écologie des hydrosystèmes naturels et anthropisés, LEHNA UMR 5023, bâtiment Forel, Université Claude-Bernard - Lyon-1, 69622 Villeurbanne cedex, France.
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Persat
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Département des milieux et peuplements aquatiques, UMR BOREA MNHN - CNRS 7208 - IRD 207 - UPMC, 57, rue Cuvier, CP26, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Mélyne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hautecœur
authors.affiliation: Muséum national d'histoire naturelle, Département des milieux et peuplements aquatiques, UMR BOREA MNHN - CNRS 7208 - IRD 207 - UPMC, 57, rue Cuvier, CP26, 75005 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Keith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002678:Chimera; D002965:Classification; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D017859:Esocidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification; D005602:France; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010858:Pigmentation; D011153:Population; D013045:Species Specificity; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
keywords: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1; Esox aquitanicus; Esox cisalpinus; France; Integrative taxonomy; New species; Nouvelle espèce; Pleiomorphic adenoma gene-like 2; Taxonomie intégrative