2008 Volume 21 Pages 37-42
The fluvial eight-barbel loach, Lefua sp., has been included in the Red Data Book as an endangered species (IB) by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. Previous population genetic studies have clarified the existence of two genetically distinguished populations within this species (Sanyo group and Kii-Shikoku group). This species had not been discovered in Tottori Prefecture till 2003 when one individual was collected, and after that, no individual has been discovered. In 2008, the author captured six individuals from Tottori Prefecture were genetically examined and, for comparison, individuals from Okayama Prefecture captured in 2008 were also examined. The obtained DNA sequence data were compared also with the data reported in previous studies. The results suggests that the population of L. sp. inhabiting the Sendai River system was a local endemic population that was genetically different from other populations found in neighboring areas.
