DNA barcoding discriminates Pampus minor (Liu et al., 1998) from Pampus species

Although Pampus minor has been classified as a new species, it still remains controversial. Was used a DNA barcoding technique based on homologous sequence analysis of the16S and COI genes to clarify the confusion over the identification of this species. Among 12 individuals whose genetic distance was 0.002, two haplotypes were found. According to the 16S sequences, the genetic distances ranged from 0.121 to 0.133 between P. minor and other Pampus species. Although the same the genetic distance between the two P. minor haplotypes was generated using COI sequences, the haplotype of Pm22-23, Pm28, and Pm32-33 was the same as that of Pci EF607462 and EF607466, while the haplotype of Pm24-27 and Pm29-31 was the same as that of Pci EF607461 and EF607463-65. In addition, the genetic distance ranged only from 0.002 to 0.005 between P. minor and Pa EF607460 and EF607458. Apart from this, the interspecies genetic distances varied from 0.135 to 0.143 between P. minor and other Pampus species according to the COI sequences. Phylogenetic trees, using combined 16S and COI data, strongly support the viewpoint that all the P. minor individuals form one clade that is in a sister position to Pampus sp. individuals (EU357803, FJ434342-FJ434343, and FJ652423-FJ652427).