The First Record of Dina sivricensis (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae) from Duhok Province, Iraq, Based on COI Barcoding

Öz

Erpobdellid leeches are important freshwater predators that frequently pose major taxonomic problems due to their high morphological similarity. Dina Blanchard, 1892, is a genus distributed exclusively throughout Eurasia and has been differentiated from related genera by its mid-body annulation. This study presents the first molecular evidence for Dina sivricensis from Duhok Province, Iraq. Recently recorded as a new species from Türkiye, D. sivricensis is distinguished by its small cylindrical body and unique reproductive organs, including a small spherical atrium and an ellipsoidal atrial cornea. Species identification was verified using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding. The sequence obtained in this study (PZ144795) showed 95%–97% similarity to reference sequences of D. sivricensis, which were deposited under accession numbers MH013409 and MG949122 in GenBank. This study has recorded D. sivricensis from Iraq, thereby extending its known geographic range and contributing to the recorded diversity of erpobdellids in Iraq.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Leech
• molecular identification
• phylogenetic analysis
• biodiversity
• genetic marker

Etik Beyan

Ethics committee approval is not required for this study.

COI Barkodlama Temelinde Dina sivricensis (Hirudinea: Erpobdellidae)'in Irak'ın Duhok İlinden İlk Kaydı

Öz

Erpobdellid sülükleri, yüksek morfolojik benzerlikleri nedeniyle sıklıkla büyük taksonomik problemlere yol açan önemli tatlı su yırtıcılarıdır. Sadece Avrasya genelinde yayılış gösteren Dina Blanchard 1892 cinsi, vücut ortasındaki halka yapısı (anülasyon) ile akraba cinslerden ayırt edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, Irak'ın Duhok Valiliği'nden Dina sivricensis türüne ait ilk moleküler kanıtları sunmaktadır. Yakın zamanda Türkiye'den yeni bir tür olarak kaydedilen D. Sivricensis cinsinden küçük silindirik vücudu, küçük küresel atrium ve elipsoidal atrial korneayı içeren benzersiz üreme organları ile ayırt edilir. Tür teşhisi, sitokrom c oksidaz alt birim I (COI) barkodlaması kullanılarak doğrulanmıştır. Bu çalışmada elde edilen dizi (PZ144795), GenBank'ta MH013409 ve MG949122 erişim numaralarıyla kayıtlı D. sivricensis referans dizileri ile %95-%97 oranında benzerlik göstermiştir. Bu çalışma D. sivricensis'i Irak'tan kaydederek türün bilinen coğrafî dağılımını genişletmiş ve Irak'taki erpobdellid çeşitliliğine katkıda bulunmuştur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sülük
• moleküler tanımlama
• filogenetik analiz
• biyoçeşitlilik
• genetik belirteç

Etik Beyan

Bu çalışma için etik kurul onayı gerekmemektedir.

Kaynakça

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