Genetic relationships among species of hagfish revealed by protein electrophoresis

• Hagfish species of the genera Myxine, Eptatretus and Pnramyxine were analysed for genetic variation by allozyme electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing of general proteins. Large genetic differences were observed between samples of supposed conspecifics of Myxine circifrons from off the Californian coast, and also within one sample of Paramyxine sp. from Sagami Bay, Japan. The results are convincing evidence of the existence of additional sympatric species in these two areas. In general, the highest genetic identities were found between species within the subfamilies Myxininae and Eptatretinae. Within Eptatretinae, the Japanese species Eptatietus burgeri was genetically more similar to Japanese species of Paramyxine than to American species of Eptatretus. Thus, our data indicate that the generic status of Paramyxine should be reconsidered. (C) 1995 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Zoologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Zoology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Biologi med inriktning mot systematik

Biology with specialization in Systematics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)