MORPHOMETRIC AND GENETIC-CHARACTERIZATION OF SYMPATRIC POPULATIONS OFCLARIAS-GARIEPINUS AND C-ANGUILLARIS FROM SENEGAL

A sample of African Clarias catfishes from the Senegal River was studi ed using morphometry, allozyme variation, microsatellites and RFLPs of mitochondrial DNA. They all confirmed the presence of two species, C. gariepinus and C. anguillaris. The two species were closely related g enetically and no diagnostic loci were found in allozymes and microsat ellites studies. Two of the 11 haplotypes of mtDNA observed were share d by both species. Three of the four assays (morphometry, allozymes an d microsatellites) allowed a precise characterization of both. One spe cimen occupied an intermediate position in the analysis of the data; i t was considered an F-1 hybrid whose possible origin is discussed. (C) 1997 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.