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Genetic evidence fails to discriminate between Macroramphosus gracilis Lowe 1839 and Macroramphosus scolopax Linnaeus 1758 in Portuguese waters

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Abstract

Fish belonging to the genus Macroramphosus are distributed throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans. Some authors consider this genus monotypic, Macroramphosus scolopax being the only valid species. Other authors consider (based on several morphological and ecological characters) that another species (Macroramphosus gracilis) exists and occurs frequently in sympatry with the first one. Intermediate forms are also reported in literature. In this paper, using the mitochondrial control region and the nuclear first S7 intron markers, we failed to find genetic differences between individuals considered to belong to both species as well as the intermediate forms. Our results suggest that in the northeastern Atlantic, Macroramphosus is represented by a single species, M. scolopax, with different morphotypes interbreeding in the sampling areas.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the skilful technical assistance provided by S. Chenu and G.F Silva. This study was funded by the Pluriannual Program (FCT, UI&D 331/94-ISPA and CCMAR, partially FEDER funded). C. Sousa-Santos was also funded by a postdoctoral grant, SFRH/BPD/29774/2007.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidade de Investigação em Eco-Etologia, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Rua Jardim do Tabaco 44, 1149-041, Lisbon, Portugal

    Joana Isabel Robalo, C. Sousa-Santos & V. C. Almada

  2. Instituto de Oceanografia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal

    H. Cabral

  3. Centro de Ciências do Mar do Algarve, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    R. Castilho

Authors
  1. Joana Isabel Robalo
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  2. C. Sousa-Santos
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  3. H. Cabral
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  4. R. Castilho
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  5. V. C. Almada
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Correspondence to Joana Isabel Robalo.

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Communicated by Martin Ian Tayler.

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Robalo, J.I., Sousa-Santos, C., Cabral, H. et al. Genetic evidence fails to discriminate between Macroramphosus gracilis Lowe 1839 and Macroramphosus scolopax Linnaeus 1758 in Portuguese waters. Mar Biol 156, 1733–1737 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1197-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-009-1197-y

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