Morphological and molecular insights into diversity of Brevitrygon (Elasmobranchii, Myliobatiformes, Dasyatidae) in Thai waters

Abstract

Stingrays of the genus Brevitrygon in Thailand are captured as bycatch in fisheries, and a proportion of the catch is used for local consumption, but information on their biodiversity remains limited. This study examines the diversity of Brevitrygon species collected from the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. A total of 148 specimens were morphologically identified as either Brevitrygon heterura (Bleeker, 1852) or Brevitrygon cf. imbricata , based on diagnostic characters. Morphometric analysis revealed that all specimens more closely resembled B. heterura , with no significant differences between morphotypes or sexes. Genetic analysis based on COI sequences from 39 samples further supported these results. All samples grouped within the B. heterura clade with strong bootstrap support and formed two distinct genetic subgroups corresponding to the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The mean intraspecific divergence (1.08%) fell within the expected range for population-level variation in elasmobranchs, with interspecific divergence from other Brevitrygon species exceeding 9%. These results indicate that B. heterura in Thai waters likely represents a single species. While both morphometric and genetic data suggest regional differentiation, the observed variation falls within the normal range for a single species, providing no evidence of cryptic diversity. This study underscores the value of integrating morphological and molecular data to better understand population structure and taxonomy in stingrays.