Redescription and DNA barcoding of Sillago indica (Perciformes: Sillaginidae) from the coast of Pakistan

This study deals with the redescription of sillago indica based on seventy-two specimens measuring (139.2-192.4 mm sl),obtained from the fish market in weifang city,china,in march 2014,these fishes were originally captured in the coastal waters of pakistan. the meristic counts as: dorsal fin rays xi,i,20~22; anal fin rays ii,21∼23; pectoral fin rays 16∼17; pelvic fin rays i,5; caudal fin rays 16~17; gill rakers first arch 3∼4+7~8=10∼12; vertebrae 33~35 (mostly 34). the swim bladder with two anterior extensions extending forward to basioccipital on both sides above auditory capsule; two posterior extensions extending into haemal funnel beyond posterior end of body cavity (the roots of two posterior extensions are non-adjacent and two posterior extensions are not well-knitted); a single duct-like process originating from ventral surface of swim bladder (between the roots of two posterior extensions) and reaching urogenital opening. due to the similarities and complexities of morphological characters used in traditional taxonomy,taxonomic confusion has arisen in sillago concerning the nomenclature. therefore,the fragment of cytochrome oxidase subunit i (coi) gene of mitochondrial dna was sequenced for the classification of sillago species in future. the mean genetic distance within the species s. indica was 0.2%,net genetic distances between s. indica and other six species of the genus sillago ranged from 17.1% to 22.2%. comments are made on some of the characters to more fully characterize the species and for phylogenetic studies. copyright 2016 zoological society of pakistan.