Integrative taxonomy–based discovery of Dussumieria modakandai sp. nov. from India

Abstract

This study is based on integrative taxonomy and reports a new fish species Dussumieria modakandai sp. nov. from India. The new species differs from three valid species within the genus by a combination of characters such as longer maxilla (9.1%–9.9% standard length vs . 8.7% in Dussumieria elopsoides , 6.3%–8.5% in Dussumieria acuta ) and one or two rows of small conical teeth on palatine ( vs . several rows in D . elopsoides and Dussumieria albulina ). It also differs by the absence of longitudinal striae on the posterior side of body scales ( vs . presence in D . acuta and D . albulina ) and the absence of parasphenoid teeth ( vs . presence in D . acuta ). The maxilla length of D . modakandai sp. nov. is greater than snout length, which distinguishes it from other congeners. The multivariate analysis of morphometric characters using PCA differentiated the new species from D . elopsoides and D . acuta samples collected in this study. The molecular analysis, based on cytochrome c oxidase I, distinguished the new species from D . acuta , D . albulina and D . elopsoides with a high genetic distance of 13.73%, 12.22% and 12.74%, respectively. The maximum‐likelihood phylogenetic tree and automatic barcode gap discovery analysis showed the existence of six putative species in Dussumieria . Even the exhaustive sub‐clade formation within species and high intra‐species genetic distance in D . acuta (1.59) and D . modakandai (1.95) indicate the possibility of a few more cryptic species. This warrants comprehensive sample collection across the distribution range and integrative taxonomic study of the genus Dussumieria .

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