Integrative analysis to validate the diversity of flying fish (exocoetidae) in the archipelago of São Pedro and São Paulo, Mid-Atlantic region
Marine fish, Taxonomy, Evolution, DNA barcode.
The Exocoetidae family, to which flying fish belong, is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters, being epipelagic and inhabiting the surface waters of open oceans. In Brazil, this family comprises 80 species, distributed across seven genera. Beyond their diversity, flying fish represent a valuable biological model for ecological and evolutionary studies, showcasing diverse morphological specializations and serving as a crucial ecological link in the trophic chain, being the preferred prey for high commercially valued predators. The monophyly of the Exocoetidae family is well-established and confirmed by both morphological and molecular data. However, genomic information remains limited for estimating the current diversity of flying fish, especially those in the São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago (ASPSP). This study aims to enhance genomic insights into flying fish (Exocoetidae) from the São Pedro and São Paulo Archipelago, contributing to biodiversity prospecting. All species were identified based on morphometric and morphological characteristics, validated through mitochondrial molecular marker sequencing (COI), and compared with sequences deposited in the GenBank/BOLD sequence bank. As a result, 32 specimens were collected at ASPSP, distributed in three species and one only at the genus level, subdivided into three genera.