Records and genetic characteristics of exotic bitterling, Acleilognathus tabira subspp., from northern Mie Prefecture, Japan

Abstract

Exotic populations of Acheilognatus tabira found in northern Mie Prefecture, and subjected to nucleotide sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b region, were determined to represent the Hokuriku (A. t. jordani) and Kinki-Sanyo (A. t. tabira) lineages. The first record of A. t. jordani from outside its native distribution area (Japan Sea side of western Honshu), it is likely to be a viable population due to the presence at the sampling site of the freshwater mussel Beringiana fukuharai (Unionidae, Cristariini), with which the former likely has a spawning relationship.