Using DNA Barcoding and Morphometrics to Determine a Potential Case of Cryptic Species in the Purple Spaghetti Eel (Moringua raitaborua)
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
With the advent of modern genetic barcoding techniques, many taxonomic classifications have been able to be revised and clarified, but many more remain unclear. One such group is the tropical eel genus Moringua. The actual number of valid species in the Moringua genus is unclear, with numbers ranging from nearly 40 to under 15. Sex- and age-related differences have contributed to confusion, with immature forms often being classified as different genera or families. Recently one species in particular, Moringua raitaborua, has come to the attention of experts in the field as potentially consisting of multiple cryptic species. Two distinct morphs of M. raitaborua have been observed, with specimens from reef and rubble environments possessing a protruding lower jaw and well-developed pectoral fins, while specimens from soft bottomed river mouths have jaws equal in length and underdeveloped or entirely absent pectoral fins. This project is complementing current research on contemporary Moringua specimens in the Philippines by performing morphological analysis and genetic sequencing on historical specimens of M. raitaborua and other Moringua archived in the Smithsonian. Body measurements and vertebral counts will be analyzed to discover if there is a relationship between the two morphs and any other detectable physical differences. The sequence results will be combined with previously existing data to assemble a new phylogenetic tree and determine whether the original identifications of these specimens were correct, if they were misidentified, or if there are indeed cryptic species within M. raitaborua that need to be described.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
David Gauthier, John Whalen
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Department of Biological Sciences
College Affiliation
College of Sciences
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Bioinformatics | Genomics | Marine Biology
Session Title
College of Sciences 4
Location
Learning Commons @Perry Library, Room 1310
Start Date
3-30-2024 12:00 PM
End Date
3-30-2024 1:00 PM
Using DNA Barcoding and Morphometrics to Determine a Potential Case of Cryptic Species in the Purple Spaghetti Eel (Moringua raitaborua)
Learning Commons @Perry Library, Room 1310
With the advent of modern genetic barcoding techniques, many taxonomic classifications have been able to be revised and clarified, but many more remain unclear. One such group is the tropical eel genus Moringua. The actual number of valid species in the Moringua genus is unclear, with numbers ranging from nearly 40 to under 15. Sex- and age-related differences have contributed to confusion, with immature forms often being classified as different genera or families. Recently one species in particular, Moringua raitaborua, has come to the attention of experts in the field as potentially consisting of multiple cryptic species. Two distinct morphs of M. raitaborua have been observed, with specimens from reef and rubble environments possessing a protruding lower jaw and well-developed pectoral fins, while specimens from soft bottomed river mouths have jaws equal in length and underdeveloped or entirely absent pectoral fins. This project is complementing current research on contemporary Moringua specimens in the Philippines by performing morphological analysis and genetic sequencing on historical specimens of M. raitaborua and other Moringua archived in the Smithsonian. Body measurements and vertebral counts will be analyzed to discover if there is a relationship between the two morphs and any other detectable physical differences. The sequence results will be combined with previously existing data to assemble a new phylogenetic tree and determine whether the original identifications of these specimens were correct, if they were misidentified, or if there are indeed cryptic species within M. raitaborua that need to be described.