Resolving Species Identification and Distribution Patterns of Neotrygon spp. in Thai Waters: Inefficiency of Morphometric Analysis and the Power of COI Gene Barcoding and Phylogenetics

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Published: Apr 1, 2025
Keywords:
COI Cryptic species complex Gulf of Thailand Molecular taxonomy Neotrygon kuhlii

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Thadsin Panithanarak
Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
Ratima Karuwanjaroen
Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
Chanapa Utama
Faculty of Marine Technology, Burapha University, Chanthaburi Campus, Chanthaburi, Thailand
Penchan Laongmanee
Faculty of Marine Technology, Burapha University, Chanthaburi Campus, Chanthaburi, Thailand
Titirat Meejan
Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
Wansuk Senanan
Department of Aquatic Science, Faculty of Science, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand
Wanlada Klangnurak
Department of Animal Production Technology and Fishery, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand
Jenjit Khudamrongsawat
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Tassapon Krajangdara
66/27 Soi 5, Thep Thani Village, Moo 2, Rasada, Muang, Phuket, Thailand

Abstract

Three species of maskrays in the genus Neotrygon have previously been reported in Thai waters. However, the high morphological similarity among species within the blue-spotted maskray complex (Neotrygon spp.) makes accurate identification challenging. This study aimed to confirm species identification in Neotrygon spp. using morphometric and genetic data and to further examine their phylogenetic relationships in Thai waters by analyzing mitochondrial COI (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) sequences. Multivariate analysis (PCA) of 37 morphometric characters from 55 specimens proved insufficient for species-level discrimination. However, molecular phylogenetic analysis of 14 unique COI sequences from Thai waters, combined with 61 reference sequences from previously documented related species and closely related species, identified two monophyletic clades. These clades corresponded to two species: N. varidens, found exclusively in the Gulf of Thailand, and N. malaccensis, recorded for the first time in Thailand, occurring in both the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. This DNA-based identification provides clear evidence for species boundaries within Thai Neotrygon species and highlights the importance of molecular tools for distinguishing morphologically similar marine species in the Indo-Pacific region.

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Panithanarak, T., Karuwanjaroen , R. ., Utama , C., Laongmanee, P., Meejan, T., Senanan, W., Klangnurak, W., Khudamrongsawat, J. ., & Krajangdara, T. (2025). Resolving Species Identification and Distribution Patterns of Neotrygon spp. in Thai Waters: Inefficiency of Morphometric Analysis and the Power of COI Gene Barcoding and Phylogenetics . Journal of Fisheries and Environment, 49(1), 154–163. retrieved from https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/JFE/article/view/264390
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Vol. 49 No. 1 (2025): January-April
Section
Research Article
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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