Species Delimitation of Southeast Pacific Angel Sharks (<i>Squatina</i> spp.) Reveals Hidden Diversity through DNA Barcoding
Abstract
Angel sharks are distributed worldwide in tropical to subtropical waters. Across the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), two valid species are reported: The Pacific angelshark <i>Squatina californica</i> and the Chilean angelshark <i>Squatina armata</i>; however, there is still uncertainty about their geographic distribution, mainly along the northern Peru coast where the species have been reported to be sympatric. The aim of this study is to describe the genetic differences between the genus <i>Squatina</i> from the EPO, including samples from northern Peru, and using DNA barcoding and three species delimitation models: Poisson tree processes (PTP) model, Bayesian implementation of the PTP (bPTP) model and the general mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) model. The three approaches summarized 19 nominal <i>Squatina</i> species in 23 consensus Molecular Taxonomic Units (MOTU). Only 16 of them were in accordance with taxonomic identifications. From the EPO, four <i>Squatina</i> MOTUs were identified, one from North America (<i>S. californica</i> USA/Mexico) and three sampled in northern Peru, <i>S. californica</i> Peru, <i>S. armata</i> and <i>Squatina</i> sp. (a potential new species). This study contributes to the management and conservation policies of angel sharks in Peru, suggesting the presence of an undescribed species inhabiting the northern Peruvian coast. The use of molecular approaches, such as DNA barcoding, has the potential to quickly flag undescribed species in poorly studied regions, including the Southeast Pacific, within groups of ecologically and economically important groups like angel sharks.
Date
01-04-2021Author
Rosa M. Cañedo-Apolaya
Clara Ortiz-Alvarez
Eliana Alfaro-Cordova
Joanna Alfaro-Shigueto
Ximena Velez-Zuazo
Jeffrey C. Mangel
Raquel Siccha-Ramirez
Carmen Yamashiro
Jorge L. Ramirez
Metadata
Show full item recordURI
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/5/177http://digilib.fisipol.ugm.ac.id/repo/handle/15717717/41121
