molecular phylogeny ofthe puntius (hamilton, 1822) based on nuclear gene rag2

the tropical asian cyprinid genus puntius is a major part of the ichthyofauna in southeast asia. systematic status of the genus puntius among cyprinidae, the most prominent freshwater fish all over the world, remain to be substantiated. the molecular phylogenetic analyses derived from recombination activating genesequences (rag2) for 35 representative samples of malaysian puntius and their allies, indicated paraphyly of the genus puntius among common cyprinid groups of southeast asia. at a larger scale, while the monophyly of cyprinidae and the subfamily cyprininae were confirmed, the monophyly of the tribe barbinini, cyprinini, or puntius (systomus) were not supported.