Okada, NorihiroSasaki, TakeshiBwathondi, Philip O. J.Ngatunga, Benjamin P.2016-09-212016-09-212007Okada, N., Sasaki, T., Bwathondi, P.O.J. and Ngatunga, B.P., 2007. Population genetic analysis of western Indian coelacanths based on mitochondrial DNA. Pioneering Studies on Coelacanth, Part, 3, pp.45-47.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3771In recent years, a large number of individuals of coelacanths have been landed off the coast of Tanzania. Although coelacanth specimens have also been landed at other localities in the western Indian Ocean, so far, viable populations of this species have been identified only at two localities, Comoros and South Africa. Therefore, the recent active catch off Tanzania suggests a new habitat for coelacanth. Based on the current situation surrounding the Tanzanian coelacanth, to examine the genetic background of the fish, we determined complete mitochondrial sequences of Tanzanian coelacanths collected from the north and south coasts of Tanzania. Using the criteria for six haplotypes established in a population genetic study for coelacanths living in the western Indian Ocean (Schartl et al., Nature 2005; 435:901), we analyzed mitochondrial haplotypes of Tanzanian coelacanths. As a result of haplotype characterization, we suggest that the southern specimen is a member of the Comoran group, but were swept away by the South Equatorial current. On the other hand, some of the northern specimens formed a haplotype group that contains Kenyan coelacanth. We assumed that the north Tanzanian specimens may be a member of an undiscovered population that exists near the boundary between Tanzania and Kenya.enJournal Article, Peer Reviewed