Ahmad Shadi

Traditionally fish from family Sillaginidae considered as Sillago sihama in the North Persian Gulf. Genetic as well as morphological analyses were used to study species differentiation of Sillaginids in the North Persian Gulf. Meristic counts and geometric morphometrics were used to morphologically differentiate specimens. We sequenced a 620 bp fragment from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) of Sillaginids collected from the north Persian Gulf and analysed in contrast to sequences from the GenBank. In spite of inconspicuous meristic features, no significant morphometric differences between samples was observed, however based on analysed sequences and phylogenetic relationships of the samples three species of Sillaginids were revealed. Except for Sillago sihama, no previous barcodes were available for other two species Sillago arabica and Sillago attenuata in the GenBank. The results of the present study revealed that at least three species of Sillaginids apparently identical are present in the North Persian Gulf, Therefore, precautionary consideration by environmental and fisheries managers is recommended.