Abstract:
Groupers are known as one of the important marine and estuarine fshes they are
widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical open water. Nevertheless, the taxonomy
and phylogenetic relationships among wild groupers in Malaysian waters are still poorly
studied and need to be further clarifed. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic
relationship of wild grouper using samples collected from eight coastal areas in Peninsular
Malaysia. Samples were identifed manually based on their morphological characteristics.
Molecular phylogeny was inferred for subfamily Epinephelinae using a combined analysis
of the mitochondrial cytochrome b and nuclear Recombination activating gene-1 (RAG-1)
genes from 12 species representing three genera of subfamily Epinephelinae. Results from
all methods of analyses (Neighbour-joining (NJ), maximum parsimony (MP), maximum
likelihood (ML), minimum evolution (ME), and Bayesian analyses (BI)) produced similar
tree topologies and strong supported the monophyletic status of the three genera within
the subfamily Epinephelinae with genus Plectropomus was basal to the other genera.
Phylogenetic analyses also divided genus Epinephelus into two different clades similar to
other previous fndings. Nevertheless, several relationships remain unresolved particularly
among morphologically similar species (e.g between E. fario and E. longispinis) and
species with limited number of individuals (E. coioides). Overall, the fndings of this study
have managed to provide new insights on the taxonomy, phylogeny and genetic diversity of
grouper fshes in Peninsular Malaysia, which are important for their appropriate sustainable
management, either for conservation or aquaculture purposes.
