Preliminary Identification and Phylogenetic Study of Chrysichthys Pisces:Claroteidae from Upper River Benue, Nigeria Using Microsatellite DNA

This study was undertaken to identify the valid species at morphological and molecular levels and to illustrate the similarities and distances among the populations of Chrysichthys in Upper River Benue. The samples were purchase from fishers in the months of May through November, 2015 from Bakin Kogi landing site, Jimeta in Yola North Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Fifty-six (56) individuals of Chrysichthys were collected and morphologically identified into four species: Chrysichthys auratus longifilis, C. furcatus, C. nogrodigitatus and C. walkeri. DNA from alcohol preserved fin clips was extracted and purified using kit obtained from Zymo Research Corp. ZR Genomic DNA™.  The DNA templates were PCR amplified using primer CN13 on Master Thermocycler PCR Machine. The PCR aplicons were run on 1% agarose gel and the bands visualized using a Digital UV Light Trans-illuminator. The photograph of the bands was saved and the amplified bands read and interpreted. Twenty-four samples gave a clear band for the CN13 primer used. The result showed that of the four species identified morphologically, two amplified 100% (C. nigrodigitatus and C. walkeri), C. auratus longifilis amplified 25% and C. furcatus amplified 14.3%. The Pearson Coefficient similarity matrix showed that there was a range from -0.083 (8.3%) to 1.000 (100%) and the distance matrix showed a range from 0.000 (0%) to 112.309%. The dendrogram also showed clades representing 3 levels of relationship between the four species studied. It was concluded that the CN13 locus amplified successfully for the 2 species C. nigrodigitatus and C. walkeri and could be used for molecular identification of the species.