Morphological and molecular diversity of Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Silver carp (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from Tarbela Dam Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Hypophthalmichthys molitrix commonly known as Silver carp is fresh water carp that native to Russia and China. The habitat of this fish is large rivers, ponds, slow running water and flood plains but now threatened to natural ecosystem.  The present study was conducted from 25 June to 10 August 2024 to investigate morphology and genetic diversity of H. molitrix from Tarbela Dam district Haripur Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We collected 10 fish specimens from Tarbela Dam and identified on the base of morphology as spindled shaped, laterally compressed body with silver coloration, keeled body extended from throat to vent, lower jaw smaller than upper jaw, forked shaped caudal fine with curved lateral line, serrated spins at the front of dorsal and pectoral fin. We analyzed a total of 47 morphological characters and calculated the standard deviation, mean, regression, range difference and Correlation. We submitted Cytochrome oxidase sub unit I (COI) gene to GenBank for accession number as PP275112. The reported sequence of COI gene from Pakistan shows high similarity almost 99.42% with other sequences of H. molitrix reported from China and America. Additionally, we constructed a phylogenetic tree to clarify their phylogenetic relation H. molitrix with other related species.