Genetic Exploration of the Indonesian Indigenous Silver Tigerfish Datnioides polota (Hamilton, 1822)

Silver tigerfish Datnioides polota (Hamilton, 1822), is one of three ornamental fish species within the genus Datnioides that are native to Indonesia. Currently, the silver tigerfish is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a species of Least Concern (LC), indicating a low risk of extinction. This species is found from the South Asia to Southeast Asia, with a population in Indonesia found in South Sumatra and West Kalimantan. Research on this species has predominantly focused on reproductive biology and ecology, while its phenotypic and genotypic characterisation largely remains unexplored. Phenotypic characterisation can be assessed through morphometrics, and meristic approaches. In contrast, genotypic studies can utilise molecular tools, including DNA barcoding, microsatellite markers, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Genetic information currently available for silver tigerfish in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) public database is limited to mitochondrial genome data. To date, no specific genome annotation has been documented for the silver tigerfish, highlighting the need for further studies to understand its genetics more completely. This is the first integrated review of D. polota, addressing critical gaps in genetic knowledge and promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of these ornamental species.