Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered Miho spine loach (Iksookimia choii) and cross-species amplification within the Cobitidae family

The Miho spine loach (Iksookimia choii) is an endangered freshwater fish endemic to Korea. To aid a conservation programme for this species, 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized in 67 individuals from three populations. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 8 to 33. Within populations, the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.59 to 1.00 and from 0.56 to 0.96, respectively, indicating its usefulness in population genetics studies. Cross-species amplification of the loci was tested in six species of the family Cobitidae, and 18 loci were amplified in two or more related species.