DNA Barcoding of venomous stonefish (Pseudosynanceia melanostigma) from the Persian Gulf

Stonefish (Pseudosynanceia melanostigma), a species of the family Synanceiidae, which is considered the most venomous fish and a source of potential pharmaceuticals, is found in the muddy bottoms of the shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. This study presents the first barcode sequences of P. melanostigma in global gene databases from the Persian Gulf. The specimens were identified based on morphological characteristics as well as DNA barcoding based on the COI gene. The present record of this species as a reference in gene databases adds to our knowledge of the biodiversity of fish globally and could be used as an effective tool in the future for the accurate identification of fish at any stage of the life cycle or even for the identification of this species in other regions.