Morphological and Mitochondrial DNA Analyses of Oysters in the Northern Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

The geographic boundaries of many important habitat-building shallow estuarine oyster (Family Ostreidae) species are poorly understood, especially in subtropical and tropical waters. These keystone often have extensive historical extant ranges, part because their ability to adapt diverse environmental conditions the transfer introduction a few worldwide for aquaculture production. In addition, oysters exhibit morphological plasticity additionally confounding identification taxonomy. Molecular techniques led significant improvements systematics taxonomy but not been applied from regions, including coastal areas Indian Ocean such as Bangladesh. Because species' based on traits alone, this case primarily shell characteristics, were inadequate, phylogenetic analyses mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene fragments was also done confirm identity specimens collected Bangladesh Phylogenetic samples confirmed two monophyletic subclades Ostreidae family Crassostrea Saccostrea, five lineages region identified: gryphoides, belcheri, Saccostrea cuccullata lineage B, S. F, mordax. A new addition list species, C. belcheri found Bangladesh, considered “common” neighboring states India Myanmar indicating widespread distribution these along entire coast Bay Bengal. However, mordax, is record Bengal waters Andaman Nicobar Islands, thus extends geographical species.