Phylogenetic relationships among the Leiurus abdullahbayrami (Scorpiones: Buthidae) populations in Turkey inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequence data

AYHAN H., ATAY E., ÇARHAN A., Yağmur E. A., Özkan Ö., Çelebi B.

Biharean Biologist, vol.12, no.2, pp.65-69, 2018 (Scopus) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 12 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2018
  • Journal Name: Biharean Biologist
  • Journal Indexes: Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.65-69
  • Keywords: Genotype, Leiurus abdullahbayrami, Molecular phylogeny, Scorpion, Turkey
  • Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been widely employed in phylogenetic studies. Leiurus abdullahbayrami was recognised has representing a different Leiurus scorpion species in 2009, with several morphological characters that differentiate it from Leiurus quinquestriatus, the genus type species. In this study, Leiurus abdullahbayrami samples collected from the provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Gaziantep, Şanliurfa, Adiyaman, and Mardin in Turkey were used as study material. The genetic identification of the L. abdullahbayrami (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was carried out by using the 16S mitochondrial gene, subunit of mtDNA. According to the results of this study, the little genetic difference between the groups was confirmed and the taxonomic validity of Leiurus abdullahbayrami was confirmed with molecular data. The 16S rRNA sequence data showed that the genus Leiurus seems to be represented in Turkey by a single species, L. abdullahbayrami. Nucleotide variations found in the current work constitute the first descriptive report for L. abdullahbayrami.