Molecular Phylogeny of Schizothorax Species Based on Concatenated CO-I and Cyt b Sequences

Abstract

Schizothorax plagiostomus is found in the cold-water of Hindukush-Karakoram-Himalayan mountains/foothills and parts of Central Asia. The local cold-water fishery of Schizothoracinae supports the rural economy of this region. Despite of its wide range of presence and potential economic value, Schizothorax is a highly neglected ichthyo-fauna with disputed taxonomical status. In this study the sequence data of mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (CO-I ) and Cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene have been employed to explain the phylogenetic relationship(s) between the S. plagiostomus from different riverine system and the phylogenetic relationship between seven species of Schizothorax keeping Schizothorax plagiostomus as a reference organism. Our data revealed the genetic proximity shared between S. niger, S. curvifrons , S. richardsonii, S. progastus , S. esocinus, S. labiatus and S. plagiostomus & S. esocinus.