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¹ Fishery Survey of India, Royapuram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
² P.G. & Research Department of Zoology, Sir Theagaraya College, Chennai, India
³ CAS Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, India
⁴ Institute of Marine Studies, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, United States of America DOI : 10.4194/GA911 Viewed : 55 - Downloaded : 57 Comprehensive information regarding larval identifications and descriptions of tropical marine and estuarine fishes remains limited, contributing to taxonomic ambiguity and exacerbating the already high diversity of finfish species in these waters. The necessity for precise identification of early developmental stages of fishes cannot be overstated, as it plays a crucial role in various aspects of fishery resource management, including stock assessment, fishery compensation, ecological monitoring, and habitat protection. The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of DNA barcodes in facilitating the identification of larval fish. This evaluation becomes crucial as conventional taxonomic keys, reliant on morphological characteristics, fall short in light of the dearth of discernible larval traits and the swift morphological transformations throughout ontogeny. The collection of larval fishes was carried out using plankton nets within the vicinity of the Alamparai estuary, Tamil Nadu, India, during the period from April 2012 to March 2014. A total of 12,428 finfish larvae were morphologically identified, mostly to the family and genus level. Among them, a total of four individuals were studied for DNA barcoding analysis. Molecular studies employed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase I (CO I) gene fragments. Genetic distance analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences demonstrated unique characteristics distinguishing them from closely related species of all finfish larvae. The highest genetic distance was observed Trachinotus blochii (0.100%) followed by Crossorhombus azureus (0.097%); Terapon jarbua (0.08%) and Arothron immaculatus (0.02%). The significance of larval fish taxonomy in fishery management underscores the need for a comprehensive approach that integrates both morphological and molecular identification methods. This strategic combination of morphological and molecular techniques not only addresses the limitations of traditional methods but also enhances the precision and expediency required for robust fishery management practices. Keywords : Ichthyoplankton Morphology MtDNA Finfish larvae Fisheries management Alamparai estuary