The squaretail mullet Ellochelon vaigiensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) a complex of cryptic species?

What is it about?

Mullet species have a uniform external body shape, which makes it difficult to identify them based on morpho-anatomical characters. In this study our molecular result suggests squaretail mullet as a complex of cryptic species. Recent studies highlighted two lineages of this species in the Indo-Pacific (Polynesia & Taiwan waters) and along Australian shores respectively. Here we added a third linage from the northern Indian ocean. Despite clear genetic divergences there was no morpho-anatomical difference among specimens of the north Indian Ocean vs. Indo-Pacific and Australian shores specimens.

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