Molecular identification of Japeuthria ferrea from the south coast of Korea

ABSTRACT This study represents the first molecular analysis of Japeuthria ferrea specimens from Korea, focusing on COI and H3 gene regions for species identification and phylogenetic analysis. A total of 13 samples was collected from three different locations along the south coast of Korea, and their sequences were registered in the NCBI GenBank. The COI and H3 gene regions were successfully amplified and bidirectionally sequenced, providing a valuable reference for future DNA barcoding studies. Phylogenetic analysis based on both COI and H3 sequences demonstrated that the Korean and Japanese J. ferrea populations lacked clear regional differentiation. Despite the limitations in differentiating the regional characteristics of J. ferrea, the study confirms the applicability of COI and H3 genes for accurate species identification. The findings emphasise the importance of employing multiple molecular markers for comprehensive DNA analysis to improve species identification accuracy and to minimise misidentification. Further investigation involving expanded sampling and additional DNA regions is required to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and distribution of J. ferrea.