Status of the Catalan chub Squalius laietanus (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) in France: input from morphological and molecular data.

<p>Two species of chubs in French drainages: the common chub S. cephalus<br />
and the Catalan chub S. laietanus restricted to Oriental Pyrenees (South<br />
of France).Morphological and molecular characters distinguishing the two<br />
species have been described on Spanish specimens, but not tested on<br />
French samples. 32 sites were sampled throughout the French water system,<br />
yielding 155 specimens of which 60 were sequenced for two molecular<br />
markers COI and rhodopsin. Two divergent haplotype clusters for<br />
COI are found, and indicate the presence of S. laietanus in France (from<br />
Massane to Agly basins). In some sites, both species are sympatric. In<br />
some cases, molecular results partially disagree with morphological data,<br />
suggesting possible hybridizations between the two. This might threaten<br />
Catalan chub in France, and its red list status should be re-evaluated in<br />
order to undertake conservation measures.</p>