DNA Barcoading of Bandfish, i Acanthocepola abbreviata /i (Valenciennes, 1835) (Cepolidae) in the Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf

This study confirms the presence of Bandfish, Acanthocepola abbreviata in the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf. One specimen was collected with the trawl net in June 2024 from the coastal water of Hormuz Island (27°05 N, 56°27 E). Sequence of COI gene and information on the morphometric and meristic characters were used to confirm identification. Genetic results revealed a 19-25% genetic distance (K2P) between identified haplotype of A. abbreviata (PP938945) and haplotypes of other congener species in the area, while within species distance was 0.1-0.2%. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the identified haplotype is placed in a monophyletic clade. Also, the analysis result of a species delimitation model (ABGD) confirmed the haplotypes as a distinct species. This study provided the first COI molecular sequence data of A. abbreviata, and first phylogenic analysis of this species and provided results could lead to better understanding of the fish fauna in the Persian Gulf.