Molecular investigation and DNA Barcoding of Platycephalus indicus from the Persian Gulf

This study aimed to use mitochondrial DNA barcoding method to undrestand better toxanomic status of the Platycephalus indus and find genetic linkage with other reported specimens from different parts of the world as well as to manage the optimal utilization of native species and sustainable conservation. Sampling was performed from coastal waters of Hormozgan province. DNA was extracted from the dorsal fin using DNeasy Tissue Kit.  Phylogenetic relationships of Platycephalus indus using comparisons with those found in the NCBI Gene bank showed that samples obtained from the Persian Gulf showed a monophyletic clade along with samples from China and Saudi Arabia. In this study, it was found that the sample from the Persian Gulf and also other reported samples can be separated with the genetic distance between 0.002 to 0.095, which confirms the effective use of the COI genome in barcoding and genetic distance determination according to geographical dispersion as well as morphological characteristics. The haplotype network plot of the studied species also showed the haplotype distribution of the studied species compared to other haplotypes. Based on the obtained results, it can be assumed that the distribution of this species can be affected by the possible migration of this species.