Published Paper Details:

Catfishes are ray-finned fish that have barbels, are scaleless, and are bottom feeders. Examples of Catfishes Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Pangasius pangasius, Wallago attu, Ompak spp. Catfishes have a wide geographical distribution and are found in North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Eurasia, South-East Asia, Japan, and Australasia. Catfishes belong to the order Siluriformes (Actinopterygii) and the family Bagridae. Due to morphological similarity, many fish look alike, but in reality, they belong to different genera and species. Because of this, fish products can sometimes have mixed or incorrect labelling, which can be harmful. For conservation purposes, it is also important to correctly identify these species. For this, we use a molecular tool called DNA barcoding. Different scientists have applied DNA barcoding in various ways and in different locations. In DNA barcoding, we can use genes like Cytochrome b and the mitochondrial gene Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI). DNA barcoding has helped resolve many doubts about species identification and is a very useful technique. Using this method, we can also construct phylogenetic relationships. With the help of DNA barcoding, the discovery of new species has become easier, and a fish database has been created.