Phylogenetic relationships among four species and a sub-species of Mullidae (Actinopterygii; Perciformes) based on mitochondrial cytochrome B, 12S rRNA and cytochrome oxidase II genes

DNA sequence comparisons of three mitochondrial DNA genes were used to reveal phylogenetic relationships among four species and a sub-species of Mullidae family. This is the first report using mitochondrial DNA sequence data to infer intraspecific relationship among different populations of Mullus barbatus and Mullus surmuletus; phylogenetic relationships between M. barbatus and its sub-species; M. barbatus ponticus. Cytochrome b, 12S ribosomal RNA, and cytochrome oxidase II regions of 242 individuals belonging to species M. barbatus, M. surmuletus, Upeneus moluccensis, Upeneus pori and sub-species M. barbatus ponticus were sequenced and phylogenetic trees were constructed using four different algorithms. The phylogenetic trees constructed support the existing taxonomical data of two mullid genera (Mullus, Upeneus). Molecular data shows no significant difference between same species of different geographical populations. The results suggest that the molecular difference is not large enough between M. barbatus and M. barbatus ponticus to consider them as sub-species.