Morphological and genetic diversity of Sabanejewia balcanica (Cobitidae, Actinopterygii) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Taxonomic position of the Balkan spined loach, Sabanejewia balcanica (Karaman, 1922) is still uncertain. There are pronounced differences in morphological characters among individuals from different populations, which led to description of various populations as species, subspecies and clinal variation. In this investigation we aimed to describe morphological and genetic diversity of S. balcanica in Bosnia and Herzegovina, investigate phylogenetic relationships among populations and get insight into their evolutionary history. The obtained results revealed pronounced genetic structuring inside S. balcanica in Bosnia and Herzegovina and moderate to high genetic diversity contained inside each population. Lineages and sublineages of S. balcanica in Bosnia and Herzegovina diverged during Pleistocene epoch and their evolution was most likely shaped by alteration of glaciations with interglacial periods. Based on morphometric characters, investigated populations fall within already reported range for S. balcanica. However, distinctiveness of populations from Brka, Suturlija and Turija Rivers from the remaining populations in their body shapes have been observed and discussed in relation to separate evolutionary history of some populations.