Taxonomic Diversity of the Genus Tor (Cyprinidae) from Aceh Waters in Indonesia Based on Cytochrome Oxidase Sub-Unit I (COI) Gene

Abstract

The mahseer or keureling, members of the genus Tor J.E.Gray, 1833 are the commercial freshwater fish. It has potency to be cultivated commercially. Presently, no studies have been conducted on the molecular taxonomy of these fish. Hence, the objectives of the present study were to complement this morphological identification using the DNA barcoding gene, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Samples were obtained from seven areas of Aceh Province, namely; Aceh Besar, Aceh Barat, Nagan Raya, Aceh Selatan, Aceh Tenggara, Gayo Lues and Pidie Districts. A total of 140 fish samples have been collected during the sampling, of these 37 samples have been successfully sequenced. Based on the results of the sequencing data and blasting to NCBI data, only two species of Tor occur in Aceh waters: T. tambra (Valenciennes, 1842) and T. tambroides (Bleeker, 1854); while T. soro (Valenciennes, 1842) and T. douronensis (Valenciennes, 1842) were not validated.