{"title":"Sri Lanka’s elusive freshwater spiny eel, Macrognathus pentophthalmos (Teleostei: Mastacembelidae)","authors":"Hiranya Sudasinghe, Tharindu Ranasinghe, Rachith Priyankara Perera, Lukas Rüber","doi":"10.11646/zootaxa.5493.1.6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"This study focuses on Macrognathus pentophthalmos, one of the two freshwater spiny eel species in Sri Lanka, which was once abundant in lowland floodplains. However, since the 1980s, this species has experienced a significant population decline, the causes of which remain unknown. It is presently assessed as Critically Endangered in the National Red List. Here, we report on a juvenile and an adult M. pentophthalmos discovered in the dry zone lowlands of the island. Using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 marker, we reveal subtle genetic differences between M. pentophthalmos and its Indian congener, M. aral. Additionally, we delve into the historical records of M. pentophthalmos in Sri Lanka, tracing its decline, and suggest strategic hotspots for further investigation into its current status. This study aims to contribute insights into the enigmatic decline of this species while shedding light on its genetic relationships and proposing targeted areas for conservation efforts.\n ","PeriodicalId":24072,"journal":{"name":"Zootaxa","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Zootaxa","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5493.1.6","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ZOOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This study focuses on Macrognathus pentophthalmos, one of the two freshwater spiny eel species in Sri Lanka, which was once abundant in lowland floodplains. However, since the 1980s, this species has experienced a significant population decline, the causes of which remain unknown. It is presently assessed as Critically Endangered in the National Red List. Here, we report on a juvenile and an adult M. pentophthalmos discovered in the dry zone lowlands of the island. Using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 marker, we reveal subtle genetic differences between M. pentophthalmos and its Indian congener, M. aral. Additionally, we delve into the historical records of M. pentophthalmos in Sri Lanka, tracing its decline, and suggest strategic hotspots for further investigation into its current status. This study aims to contribute insights into the enigmatic decline of this species while shedding light on its genetic relationships and proposing targeted areas for conservation efforts.
期刊介绍:
Zootaxa is a peer-reviewed international journal for rapid publication of high quality papers on any aspect of systematic zoology, with a preference for large taxonomic works such as monographs and revisions. Zootaxa considers papers on all animal taxa, both living and fossil, and especially encourages descriptions of new taxa. All types of taxonomic papers are considered, including theories and methods of systematics and phylogeny, taxonomic monographs, revisions and reviews, catalogues/checklists, biographies and bibliographies, identification guides, analysis of characters, phylogenetic relationships and zoogeographical patterns of distribution, descriptions of taxa, and nomenclature. Open access publishing option is strongly encouraged for authors with research grants and other funds. For those without grants/funds, all accepted manuscripts will be published but access is secured for subscribers only.