What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate the phylogeographic patterns and cryptic diversity of Acheilognathus chankaensis in the Russian Far East.

April 22, 2026

Integrative Taxonomy of the Khanka Spiny Bitterling Acheilognathus chankaensis (Acheilognathidae) in the Russian Far East: Cryptic Diversity and Phylogeographic Patterns

Key Points

To investigate the phylogeographic patterns and cryptic diversity of Acheilognathus chankaensis in the Russian Far East.
Conducted molecular-genetic analyses of A. chankaensis free embryos from the Razdolnaya River basin.
Performed cox1 mtDNA sequencing on 23 specimens to confirm genetic identity.
Utilized phylogenetic reconstruction methods including Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood.
Identified two distinct lineages of A. chankaensis, correlated to different geographic regions.
Confirmed post-glacial dispersal patterns and ancient vicariance influences on genetic diversity.
Recognized taxonomic discordance necessitating a revision of the classification of A. chankaensis.

Abstract

We present the first molecular-genetic analyses of Acheilognathus chankaensis free embryos floodplain lake of the Razdolnaya River basin (Primorsky region, Russia). Examination of 115 Nodularia douglasiae individuals revealed 24 infested bivalves hosting 219 free embryos (length 3–5 mm). Genetic analysis of 23 specimens via cox1 mtDNA sequencing confirmed identity with A. chankaensis populations from Northeast China and South Korea. Phylogenetic reconstruction (Bayesian inference, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood) of six Acheilognathinae genera resolved nine generic groups and two distinct lineages of A. chankaensis: sensu stricto (11 haplotypes in haplogroups A1 (Primorye−Korea−Heilongjiang) and A2 (Yangtze basin)) and a polyphyletic A. chankaensis sensu lato group. Our results demonstrate possible post-glacial dispersal patterns via connected drainages (haplogroup A1), ancient vicariance in South China (haplogroup A2), and taxonomic discordance requiring revision of A. chankaensis s.l.

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Cite This Study

Vainutis et al. (Mon,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69e865fd6e0dea528ddea74b https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1134/s003294522560154x

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