Intra-species variations of Photopectoralis bindus (Family: Leiognathidae) collected from two geographical areas in East Java, Indonesia

Ponyfishes (Family: Leiognathidae) contributed ± 22% of all demersal catch in East Java, and also Indonesia. Photopectoralis bindus (Valenciennes, 1835), orangefin ponyfish, was the most dominant species in the catch. This study intended to test the hypothesis on whether separate stock can be identified from two geographical areas of about 400 km apart, with two geographical barriers of narrow traits. Samples of P. bindus from Banyuwangi and Tuban were collected for isometric growth dimension, morphometric, and genetic analysis (mt DNA region COI). The results showed that there was no single parameter indicating the presence of separate subpopulation between the areas. Isometric growth dimension closely resembled to the same species found in Channai Coast, India. Morphometric analysis showed overlap in shape of samples from both areas. Alignment of DNA sequence showed 100% similarity one to the other, with 99.2% similarity with the same species found in the Philippines. Geographical distribution of the species was far longer distance than was thought before, from the analogy of Mantis Shrimp at Java Sea.