Study on The Morphology and Genetic Characters of Tropical Freshwater Eels in The Indonesian Waters

Abstract

In order to know morphology and genetic characters of the tropical freshwater eel in lndonesian Waters, a total of 292 specimens collected in 2004 and 2005 from western, center, and eastern parts of lndonesian Waters had been examined based on morphology (pigmentation and body length measurement) and genetic analysis (PCRRFLP). From pigmentation observation, it was found that all specimens belongs to pigmentation stage VA and VB or in "glass eel" stage and just start to migrate inshore afler facing a long distance oceanic migration. From body length measurements, it was found that most specimens belongs to 6 - 13 in ADU%TL (A. borneensis. A. nebulosa. A. celebesensis, A. interioris, A. obscura) while the other species belongs to -3 - 3 (A. bicolor) and >I3 (A. marmorata) in ADU%TL. It is suggested that pigmentation and body ' length measurement could not be used for species identification of tropical freshwater eel during their glass eel stage. Based on PCR-RFLP analysis, it was found that from 7 species identified in the study, each species have to shown one pattern of species specific haplotype as ever reported, except for A. bicolor that have 2 new patterns of species specific haplotypes as well as A. celebesensis. The result on genetic analysis has to shown phenomena of intra-specific variation of tropical freshwater eels in the remote area of lndonesian Waters.