Genetic differentiation between two sympatric morphs of the blind Iran cave barb <i>Iranocypris typhlops</i>

Abstract

The phylogenetic relationship between two sympatric morphotypes of the Iran cave barb Iranocypris typhlops, and Garra rufa, was investigated by sequencing the cytochrome c oxidase I (coI) region (788 bp) providing the first molecular evidence of their phylogeny. Consistent with their morphological differences, the mean genetic distance between the two forms of I. typhlops was significantly higher than generally reported for intraspecific divergence in freshwater fishes. They were phylogenetically closer to G. rufa than to any other species.