Integrative approach revises the frequently misidentified species of Sardinella (Clupeidae) of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean.
To deal with the difficulties of species differentiation and delimitation among the commercially important sardines from the genus Sardinella, an integrative approach was adopted, incorporating traditional taxonomy with four DNA markers (coI, cytb, 16s and nuclear rag2). Combining these methodologies has enabled a thorough re-description of three of the most common species of Sardinella of the Indo-west Pacific Ocean: white sardinella Sardinella albella, fringescale sardinella Sardinella fimbriata and the goldstripe sardinella Sardinella gibbosa, as well as a description of a new species, Gon's sardinella Sardinella goni, from the island of Boracay, Philippines. In addition, extensive widespread sampling of S. gibbosa reveals a significant genetic separation between the populations from the western Indian Ocean and the west Pacific Ocean, despite no supporting morphological differentiation. An updated morphological key of the species of Sardinella of the Indo-west Pacific Ocean is also provided in order to minimize future misidentifications within these economically important taxa. Finally, the genetic and morphological variabilities within and between the investigated species are used to discuss their biogeographical distribution and possible processes of speciation.
Department of Zoology and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel. nirstern@ocean.org.il.|National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, P. O. B. 8030, Haifa, 31080, Israel. nirstern@ocean.org.il.
N
N
Stern
National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, P. O. B. 8030, Haifa, 31080, Israel.
B
B
Rinkevich
Department of Zoology and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.
M
M
Goren
D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D019156:Indian Ocean; D062312:Islands; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010679:Philippines; D010802:Phylogeny
DNA barcoding; Sardinella goni; evolution; integrative taxonomy; speciation