Novel Efficient Genome-Wide STR Panels for the Conservation of the Endemic Catfishes of Western Ghats: Critically Endangered Hemibagrus punctatus Jerdon (1849) and Vulnerable Horabagrus brachysoma (Günther, 1864)

The IUCN classifies two-endemic fishes of the Western Ghats in Peninsular India: Nilgiri mystus Hemibagrus punctatus is critically endangered, and Yellow catfish Horabagrus brachysoma is vulnerable. These are threatened by habitat degradation, excess fishing, and dam construction. ICAR-NBFGR, the premier research organisation in India for fish conservation, aims to conserve these two species through captive propagation, stock identification, and stock-specific ranching programs. The information on this species' genetic diversity and population structure is crucial for the successful rehabilitation of the species. Microsatellite markers are considered suitable markers for genetic stock structure analyses. An attempt was made to identify microsatellite markers in H. brachysoma (n = 27) and H. punctatus (n = 31) using Illumina Sequencing technology. The preliminary studies show that markers are efficient enough to differentiate the genetic stocks of these conservation-important species across their range of natural distribution. Three genetic stocks are identified in H. brachysoma and two in H.punctatus using the developed markers.