Author(s): Ranjana Bhaskar, Mohana S, Swetha S and KA Subramanian

Abstract: Cephalopods inhabit a wide range of marine environments, both commercially and ecologically. Accurate species identification is crucial for understanding their biodiversity, managing resources, and characterizing biological entities for conservation. Using traditional taxonomic methods to identify species has been challenging due to their morphological traits, similar external features, and cryptic diversity. To identify cephalopods and analyze their genetic makeup, molecular techniques were employed. A total of 34 cephalopod samples were collected from the east and west coasts of India. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified using universal primers, resulting in a partial sequence averaging 650 bp in length. The individuals were identified as belonging to 4 families, 7 genera, and 11 species, including 3 cuttlefish (Sepiella inermis, Sepia aculeata, and Sepia brevimana), four squid (Uroteuthis duvauceli, Sepioteuthis lessoniana, Loliolus uyii, and Loliolus hardwickei), one bobtail squid (Euprymna hyllebergi), and three octopuses (Amphioctopus aegina, Amphioctopus neglectus, and Amphioctopus kagoshimensis). The Maximum Likelihood tree, with high bootstrap support, revealed three separate clades representing Octopodidae, Sepiidae, Loliginidae, and Sepiolidae. Cryptic diversity was observed in octopus and cuttlefish samples. This will enable future researchers to accurately identify known cephalopod species, facilitating the discovery of new species and revealing cryptic diversity.

DOI: 10.22271/fish.2025.v13.i6c.3196

Pages: 228-236  |  131 Views  60 Downloads

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