Genetic (Genomic) and Morphological Evidence Suggest That the Korean Endemic Fat Minnow ( Rhynchocypris kumgangensis ) and the Deogyu Population Represent Distinct Species

ABSTRACT Geographically disconnected populations of freshwater fishes often show ecological and genetic divergence in response to opposing selection differentials in different habitat environments, sometimes leading to the formation of ecotypes and even speciation. Nevertheless, evidence for the speciation through allopatric processes in freshwater fish systems remains scarce. Kumkang fat minnow ( Rhynchocypris kumgangensis ), a Korean endemic coldwater fish, has recently been suggested to diverge into a separate species ( Rhynchocypris deogyuensis ). However, the level of their genetic and ecological divergence remains largely unknown. We analyzed population genetic structure of R. kumgangensis together with R. deogyuensis using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and eight newly developed microsatellite markers. Genetic divergence at mitogenome level was further assessed between the presumed two species. Moreover, we examined morphology between two groups by analyzing morphometric traits and also conducted geometric morphometrics on body shape. We found distinct population structure between R. kumgangensis and R. deogyuensis at both mtDNA and microsatellites. One remnant population of R. deogyuensis harbored only a single haplotype and showed a very high level of inbreeding. Comparative analysis of the mitogenomes showed approximately 2.9% divergence between R. kumgangensis and R. deogyuensis , supporting the species‐level divergence. The analyses of both morphometric traits and geometric morphometrics indicated significant morphological divergence between the two species. The observed low values of length–weight relationship and condition factor for R. deogyuensis are likely to be attributed to effects of the elevated level of inbreeding and depleted genetic diversity. Overall, our combined genetic/genomic and morphological analyses suggest the considerable divergence between R. kumgangensis and R. deogyuensis , supporting the hypothesis that they are distinct species. The mechanisms underpinning how they speciate still need to be studied further in detail.