A Reliable and Cost-Efficient PCR-RFLP Tool for the Rapid Identification of Cetaceans in the Mediterranean Sea

Twenty-five species of cetaceans have been reported throughout the Mediterranean Sea, eight them are commonly distributed in whole basin and regularly found beached or adrift sea. Stranded animals frequently poor conservation status, preventing reliable identification; identification is thus often based solely on morphological features. Therewith, molecular tools especially useful to provide taxonomic identification. In this work, a four-enzymes PCR-RFLP silico protocol, fragment mitochondrial gene cytb, has designed for cetacean occurring Sea. Moreover, floating specimen samples belonging common tested laboratory, providing evidence that approach represents reliable, cost- time-effective tool their specific