Rapid Species Identification of Elasmobranch Fish (Skates and Rays) using Oligonucleotide Microarray

Abstract

Correct identification and classification of fish species is important for conservation and management of the fish resources. However, previous species identification in skates and rays based on morphological similarities and differences is sometimes misleading. All over the world, there are 485 species in Rajiformes. Despite high species diversity, the species in this family share similar morphological features. Therefore, an accurate species identification system is necessary in this family. In the present study, we developed an oligonucleotide microarray for species identification of skates in the waters of Korea. We verified genetic variation of skates by sequence analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). All microarray results corroborated the species-specific sequences and allowed simple, fast and cost-effective discrimination of large number of samples. These results indicate that the oligonucleotide microarray can be a useful too[ for rapid species identification of skates.