DNA barcoding of the Luristan newt (Neurergus kaiseri) in southwestern Iran

The Luristan newt (Neurerguskaiseri) is an endemic and vulnerable species to the southern Zagros Mountains of Iran, inhabiting streams and ponds in open woodlands, dominated by oak tree (Quercus brantii). In the current study, 20 specimens of the Luristan newt were collected and sequenced for a 651bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1). Sequence divergence values varied from 0.0% to 2.8%. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of two distinct clades and a clear divergence between Northern and Southern populations. The genetic variation among the two clades was significant (FST = 0.95, P lt; 0.001). Five haplotypes were observed among N. kaiseri sequences, of which two haplotypes were found in the Northern populations and the other three haplotypes in the Southern populations. None of the haplotypes was shared between the two clades. The distinction of Northern and Southern populations may be due to the rough topography of its habitats and the low dispersal ability of the Luristan newt.