Genetic Diversity of the Pearse’s Mudskipper Periophthalmus novemradiatus (Perciformes: Gobiidae) and Characterization of its Complete Mitochondrial Genome

Present study provides a first characterization of the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome of the Pearse’s mudskipper Periophthalmus novemradiatus and describes its population genetics based on mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (co1) gene. The whole mitogenome of P. novemradiatus is the fourth representative for its genus that consists of 23 formally described species to date. Eighty samples from six localities in Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu, Malaysia were sequenced at partial co1 gene region and analyzed, revealing an overall moderate haplotype diversity (h = 0.613) and low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.20%). Moreover, both the neutrality tests and mismatch distribution analyses of co1 suggest that the mudskipper populations might experience a genetic bottleneck or founder event followed by rapid expansion and accumulation of mutations dating approximately 46,251 years ago. Hap01 was the most dominant (61.13%) haplotype that present at all sampling locations, while five haplotypes were respectively observed in two to four locations, and nine haplotypes were singleton. This supports the close relationship of P. novemradiatus in Setiu Wetlands, as also corroborated in the population pairwise FST and genetic distance analyses. Interestingly, genetic propinquity with P. novemradiatus at Java and Bali, Indonesia (the only available sequences in GenBank) was also apparent, suggesting a common source of origin or long range dispersal ability of its planktonic larvae (> 1600 km). The lack of phylogeographic structure suggests there is no evidence of a barrier to gene flow between the South China Sea and Java/ Bali Sea and such pattern is most likely driven by ecological and environmental factor. Preservation of all the P. novemradiatus habitats in Setiu Wetlands is highly recommended because they each possess unique haplotypes present only at the respective location.