The use of DNA barcode evidence for inferring species of Chlorophthalmus (Aulopiformes, Chlorophthalmidae) in the Indo-West Pacific

Recent studies have revealed evidence that the identities and distributions of several Indo-West Pacific species of Chlorophthalmus, as redefined by Sato and Nakabo (2002a), are inaccurately understood and reported in the literature. The current confusion is mostly attributable to the meristic conservatism of the genus and the individually variable nature of the morphology in those species. An analysis of the DNA barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I sequences was employed to independently group specimens into natural species assemblages, providing evidence for verifying or correcting species concepts and identities. A re-examination of the morphology of vouchers in the resultant 12 groupings identified features corroborating the distinctiveness of 10 of the 12 groups at the species level. Each of the other two groups comprised two presumed species on the basis of morphological evidence that do not appear to be separable by cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI) sequences. Two undescribed species of Chloropthalmus are now known to inhabit slope waters of Australia, and a further two undescribed species were identified elsewhere.