Resolved and Redeemed: A New Fleck to the Evolutionary Divergence in the Genus Scomberomorus Lacepède, 1801 (Scombridae) With Cryptic Speciation

The genus Scomberomorus , with 18 nominal species, sustains a significant heterogeneous fishery throughout its range. sole molecular systematic study of this concerned the species group S. regalis which contains new world taxa. diversity in northern Indian Ocean has not been studied at level, often leading to misidentifications. Here, novel genetic data are provided that reconfigure boundaries from region. We used single and multilocus (eight mitochondrial three nuclear genes) infer phylogenetic relationships, delimitation, resurrection time-calibrated tree. Our aim was also verify hypothesis geographical races guttatus predicated on variable vertebral counts. Interestingly, all delimitation analyses have recovered another highly cryptic previously believed an Indo-Pacific distribution . (Bloch Schneider, 1801) sensu stricto is redeemed type locality based preliminary morphomeristic investigations restricted Bay Bengal. aff. exhibits >10% divergence resurrected here synonymy latter as leopardus (Shaw, 1803). Widespread Indo-Pacific, two major operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) threshold over 2% between them. analysis suggests counts must be coupled other features identify species/lineages guttatus. heterogeneity discussed relation ecological region facilitates larval recruitment niche specialization. results revealed allopatric putative commerson found primarily Pacific Oceans. This added lineolatus koreanus represented sequence repositories. Estimation time indicated Indo-West undergoes multiple diversification events besides recent splits detected within S