Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar
Prior to this study, Myanmar was known to host 15 species of snakehead fishes (genus <i>Channa</i>) distributed across Southeast Asia. The region, characterized by its confluence of diverse river systems and two biodiversity hotspots, is presumed to have notable gaps in its biodiversity...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Fishes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/100 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850205436381233152 |
|---|---|
| author | Hsu Htoo Boni Amin Laskar Soo Rin Lee Sang Van Vu Phoo Mon Mon Phyo Phyo Thitsar Hyun-Woo Kim Shantanu Kundu |
| author_facet | Hsu Htoo Boni Amin Laskar Soo Rin Lee Sang Van Vu Phoo Mon Mon Phyo Phyo Thitsar Hyun-Woo Kim Shantanu Kundu |
| author_sort | Hsu Htoo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Prior to this study, Myanmar was known to host 15 species of snakehead fishes (genus <i>Channa</i>) distributed across Southeast Asia. The region, characterized by its confluence of diverse river systems and two biodiversity hotspots, is presumed to have notable gaps in its biodiversity assessments. Recently, a new snakehead species, <i>Channa shingon</i>, was discovered in China, with its potential distribution in Myanmar warranting further investigation. This study focused on exploring <i>Channa</i> species in Kachin State and examined collected specimens using an integrated approach. The specimens were identified as <i>C. shingon</i> based on their distinct morphological characters, with a maximum standard length of 99.2 mm. Additionally, mitochondrial <i>COI</i> sequence data were generated, and species confirmation was achieved through nucleotide BLAST searches, genetic distance estimations, and phylogenetic analyses. The DNA sequences of <i>C. shingon</i> showed a mean inter-species genetic distance of 7.97% to 27.41% compared with other <i>Channa</i> species in the dataset, while the intra-species genetic distance between the Burmese and Chinese populations was 0.27%. Both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses distinctly separated <i>C. shingon</i> from other congeners through a monophyletic clustering pattern, revealing its sister relationship with <i>C. rubora</i>. Overall, this study provides the first report of <i>C. shingon</i> from Myanmar and suggests its speciation from a common ancestor with <i>C. rubora</i>, likely driven by geographical barriers such as the Irrawaddy River. Furthermore, the study contributes a robust DNA barcode dataset encompassing 85.7% of the global <i>Channa</i> species diversity, which can serve as a valuable resource for further species identification, discovery, and diversity assessments of snakeheads from South and Southeast Asia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01e70a167d734a5f9978d0e13e7e4c31 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2410-3888 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Fishes |
| spelling | doaj-art-01e70a167d734a5f9978d0e13e7e4c312025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGFishes2410-38882025-02-0110310010.3390/fishes10030100Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, MyanmarHsu Htoo0Boni Amin Laskar1Soo Rin Lee2Sang Van Vu3Phoo Mon Mon Phyo4Phyo Thitsar5Hyun-Woo Kim6Shantanu Kundu7Department of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of KoreaHigh Altitude Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Solan 173211, IndiaResearch Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of KoreaFaculty of Biology, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 11400, VietnamDepartment of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Marine Biology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of KoreaOcean and Fisheries Development International Cooperation Institute, College of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of KoreaPrior to this study, Myanmar was known to host 15 species of snakehead fishes (genus <i>Channa</i>) distributed across Southeast Asia. The region, characterized by its confluence of diverse river systems and two biodiversity hotspots, is presumed to have notable gaps in its biodiversity assessments. Recently, a new snakehead species, <i>Channa shingon</i>, was discovered in China, with its potential distribution in Myanmar warranting further investigation. This study focused on exploring <i>Channa</i> species in Kachin State and examined collected specimens using an integrated approach. The specimens were identified as <i>C. shingon</i> based on their distinct morphological characters, with a maximum standard length of 99.2 mm. Additionally, mitochondrial <i>COI</i> sequence data were generated, and species confirmation was achieved through nucleotide BLAST searches, genetic distance estimations, and phylogenetic analyses. The DNA sequences of <i>C. shingon</i> showed a mean inter-species genetic distance of 7.97% to 27.41% compared with other <i>Channa</i> species in the dataset, while the intra-species genetic distance between the Burmese and Chinese populations was 0.27%. Both Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses distinctly separated <i>C. shingon</i> from other congeners through a monophyletic clustering pattern, revealing its sister relationship with <i>C. rubora</i>. Overall, this study provides the first report of <i>C. shingon</i> from Myanmar and suggests its speciation from a common ancestor with <i>C. rubora</i>, likely driven by geographical barriers such as the Irrawaddy River. Furthermore, the study contributes a robust DNA barcode dataset encompassing 85.7% of the global <i>Channa</i> species diversity, which can serve as a valuable resource for further species identification, discovery, and diversity assessments of snakeheads from South and Southeast Asia.https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/100channidsSoutheast AsiaIrrawaddy Rivernew recordDNA barcodingphylogeny |
| spellingShingle | Hsu Htoo Boni Amin Laskar Soo Rin Lee Sang Van Vu Phoo Mon Mon Phyo Phyo Thitsar Hyun-Woo Kim Shantanu Kundu Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar Fishes channids Southeast Asia Irrawaddy River new record DNA barcoding phylogeny |
| title | Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar |
| title_full | Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar |
| title_fullStr | Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar |
| title_short | Unified Morphological and Genetic Analyses Confirm the Existence of the Dwarf Snakehead <i>Channa shingon</i> (Anabantiformes: Channidae), in Kachin State, Myanmar |
| title_sort | unified morphological and genetic analyses confirm the existence of the dwarf snakehead i channa shingon i anabantiformes channidae in kachin state myanmar |
| topic | channids Southeast Asia Irrawaddy River new record DNA barcoding phylogeny |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/10/3/100 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hsuhtoo unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT boniaminlaskar unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT soorinlee unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT sangvanvu unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT phoomonmonphyo unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT phyothitsar unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT hyunwookim unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar AT shantanukundu unifiedmorphologicalandgeneticanalysesconfirmtheexistenceofthedwarfsnakeheadichannashingonianabantiformeschannidaeinkachinstatemyanmar |