Variation among complete cytb sequences (1140 bp) of Aphanius mesopotamicus Coad, 2009 was compared with closely
related species, to investigate the validity of this taxon as a newly-described tooth-carp based on morphological characteristics.
Maximum likelihood and Bayesian likelihood trees supported the monophyly of A. mesopotamicus and its sister
group relationship to A. sophiae. Some 10–16 differences were found when compared to four different population samples
of A. sophiae, whereas, intraspecific differences were only up to 6 bp. These distances suggest divergence from a common
ancestor with A. sophiae at roughly 1 million years ago. These results are congruent with morphology-based hypotheses,
indicating a recent speciation event.
Key words: Cyprinodontidae - cytochrome b - genetic distance – killifish -mtDNA
کلید واژگان :
Cyprinodontidae - cytochrome b - genetic distance – killifish -mtDNA
