An Extensive Taxonomic Analysis of Catfish Species (Family: Bagridae) Using Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the Cauvery River Basin in Tamil Nadu, India

S. Yaswanthkumar

Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Affiliated to Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641029, Tamil Nadu, India.

M. Pavunraj *

Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, Vivekananda College, Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Tiruvedakam West, Madurai District – 625 234, Tamil Nadu, India.

P. Murali

Department of Zoology, N.M.S. S. Vellaichamy Nadar College, Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Nagamalai, Madurai –625019, Tamil Nadu, India.

R. Ramakrishnan

Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Sivakasi West - 626 124, Tamil Nadu, India.

K. Nagarajan

Department of Animal Science, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli – 627 012, Tamil Nadu, India.

M. Ramasamy

Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, AVVM. Sri Pushpam College (Autonomous), Affiliated to Bharathidasan University, Poondi, Thanjavur District – 613 503, Tamil Nadu, India.

S. Raja *

Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Affiliated to Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641029, Tamil Nadu, India.

S. Rajeshkumar

Nanobiomedicine Lab, Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai – 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India.

K. Kannan

Post Graduate & Research Department of Zoology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Affiliated to Bharathiar University, Coimbatore – 641029, Tamil Nadu, India.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

The present study investigates the morphological, molecular, osteological, and evolutionary aspects of freshwater Bagrid catfish in the Western Ghats of India, focusing on the Cauvery River basin. Samples from three genera of the Bagridae family, namely Hemibagrus, Sperata, and Mystus, were collected from the Cauvery and Bhavani rivers. The study aims to assess the diversity and threatened status of Bagridae catfishes in the region, identify morphological discrimination using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), analyze phylogenetic relationships, and understand their evolutionary process from common ancestries. Morphological and meristic characterization was performed, and genetic analysis was conducted using the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COX1) gene. DNA was extracted from tissue samples, amplified using specific primers, and sequenced. The study highlights the need for taxonomic revision of Bagridae catfishes in the Western Ghats, as previous classifications were primarily based on morphometric analysis, leading to confusion and invalid species claims. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the diversity, taxonomy, and evolutionary history of Bagrid catfishes in the Western Ghats, which is crucial for their conservation, as more than 50% of the species are threatened with extinction due to various factors such as pollution, biological resource use, and habitat modification.

Keywords: Catfish, bagridae family, river basin, diversity, morphometric analysis, phylogenetic relationships


How to Cite

Yaswanthkumar, S., M. Pavunraj, P. Murali, R. Ramakrishnan, K. Nagarajan, M. Ramasamy, S. Raja, S. Rajeshkumar, and K. Kannan. 2025. “An Extensive Taxonomic Analysis of Catfish Species (Family: Bagridae) Using Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from the Cauvery River Basin in Tamil Nadu, India”. Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 17 (2):1-13. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajbgmb/2025/v17i2438.