Identification of larvae of two Gymnocanthus (Cottidae) species based on melanophore patterns

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Abstract

Gymnocanthus herzensteini and Gymnocanthus intermedius (Cottidae) larvae are common in northern Japan, but can be difficult to distinguish. In this study, morphological observations and mitochondrial DNA analyses were conducted to determine if melanophore patterns could be used to distinguish the two species. The morphological observations identified two groups with distinct melanophore patterns. Subsequent molecular analyses determined with high bootstrap values that the group with numerous body melanophores was G. intermedius, and the group with fewer melanophores was G. herzensteini. These results indicate that melanophore distribution patterns in larvae are useful for identifying G. intermedius and G. herzensteini.

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