Genetics of Australian lizard fish

The population and evolutionary genetics of fishes of the genus Saurida from waters off northern Australia were examined. Allozyme electrophoresis was used to examine the population structuring of two species. The phylogenetic relationships of five species were investigated by sequencing sections of the mitrochondrial genome. General proteins and 18 enzymes representing 21 gene loci were initially screened to examine resolution of banding patterns and the levels of polymorphism. Taxa could be separated on the basis of banding patterns for general proteins and LDH.