Relationships of eelpouts of the genus Zoarces (Zoarcidae,Pisces) inferred from molecular genetic and morphological data

Abstract-Molecular genetic and morphological analysis of eelpouts of the genus Zoarces was carried out. Based on the mitochondrial DNA sequence variation, haplotypes of notched-fin eelpout, Z. elogatus, more closely related Fedorov eelpout, Z. fedorovi, and common eelpout, Z. viviparus, as well as of Andriyashev eelpout, Z. andriashevi, were grouped in one macrocluster. Haplotypes of American eelpout, Z. americanus, and blotched eelpout, Z. gillii, clustered separately from other species. The genetic differences between Z. gillii and the other eelpout species were very high for within-genus comparisons, constituting 7.62%. Species divergence in terms of morphological characters was generally consistent with molecular genetic data and confirmed distinct isolation of American eelpout, and especially of blotched eelpout.