Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers based identification of blunthorn lobster <i>Palinustus waguensis</i> Kubo, 1963 from South-west coast of India

Abstract

The present study reports the occurrence of <i>Palinustus waguensis</i> Kubo, 1963 from South-west coast of India on the basis of morphological as well as molecular data. The DNA sequences of two mitochondrial genes, large subunit ribosomal DNA (16S rDNA) and cytochrome oxidase I (COI), and two nuclear-protein coding genes, <i>viz.</i>, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and sodium-potassium ATPase α-subunit (NaK), were submitted in the GenBank. Morphological examination of the specimen confirmed the identity of the species as <i>P. waguensis</i>. The pairwise genetic distance analysis, sequence identity and phylogenetic tree have shown that the specimen has similarity only with 16S rDNA sequence of <i>P. waguensis</i> of earlier reports. In the case of other genetic markers, it has shown some identity towards <i>P. unicornutus</i> and <i>P. holthuisi</i>, but with a high genetic difference. This study with sequence data of <i>P. waguensis</i> in GenBank will help to identify the specimen on molecular basis in future.