Molecular Identification of Platax Orbicularis (Forsskål, 1775) from the Persian Gulf

Having high economic and ecological values, the family Ephippidae consists of 8 genera and 15 species. The genus Platax has the most diversity with 5 species and is widespread in the Indo-Pacific region. P. orbicularis has been reported from the northern and southern waters of the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea. The present study reported a specimen of P. orbicularis from the coast of Persian Gulf and made the COI sequence of this specimen available. Thirty one sequences of 5 congener species, which were available through the GenBank, were used to analyze the molecular progeny of the genus Platax. The results of the current research revealed that P. orbicularis and Plataxteira were categorized in a sister group and P. boersii was classified next to them. Also, P. batavianus and P. pinnatus were identified as sister taxa. Molecular phylogeny was largely consistent with the comparative morphological results of the 5 species of the genus Platax.