Available online at www.jpsscientificpublications.com Volume – 1; Issue - 5; Year – 2015; Page: 355 – 364 Indo – Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IAJMR) ISSN: 2454-1370 © 2015 Published by JPS Scientific Publications Ltd. All rights reserved MORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION AND DNA BARCODING STUDY OF Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) FROM LOWER ANICUT, TAMIL NADU, INDIA V. Sudha 1 , J. Subburaj 2 , R. Mathialagan 3 , M. Thangaraj 4 , R. Sivakumar 5* and S. Chandrasekar 6 , 1,5,6 Post Graduate and Research Department of Zoology, Government Arts College (Autonomous) Kumbakonam – 612 001, Tamil Nadu, India. 2 Chettinad Academy of Research & Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai-603 103, Tamil Nadu. 3 Post Graduate and Research Department of Biotechnology, AVS College of Arts & Science, Salem-636 106, Tamil Nadu, India. 4 Faculty of Marine Sciences, Division of Marine Biotechnology, Centre for Advanced Studies in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai-608 502, Tamil Nadu, India. Abstract DNA barcoding is a global standard tool in taxonomy based DNA sequences and its usefulness for identification of species. Genus Labeo morphologically complicated and it still not fully resolved genus. While, several described species and other species of within genus are very difficult to delimit due to overlapping in morphological characters and complex of color patterns towards Labeo kontius and Labeo fimbriatus are very similar. With this, we have a complete photographical image for mainly helpful an identification tool for field collection. Now, morphological species identification for within group has been a unique controversial. In this, the next focus specifically a paucity of fish taxonomists and all paving by way of molecular diagnostic tool namely DNA barcode for effective taxa delimitation. Herein, the present phylogenetic analysis of Labeo calbasu based on the short standardized segment and 5' region of mtDNA COI gene fragments. Moreover, the present work discussing about to identify species through mtCOI gene to discriminating the wild species Labeo calbasu from Cauvery waters (Kollidam river), Lower Anicut, Tamil Nadu. Finally, it is a complement current results provide evidence that mtCOI gene are more effective for rapid and accurate identification of species and certain discrimination were found this species that need for further taxonomic investigation. Key words: Photographic image, MtCOI gene, Phylogenetic tree and Species identification. 1. Introduction The delimitation and recognition of fish species Labeo calbasu are not only interest for taxonomy and systematics, but also an imperative management of fisheries for authentication of food resources (Rasmussen et al., 2009). Like, it is an important food fish having wider distribution in *Corresponding author: R. Sivakumar Tel.: Mobile: +91 94433 32332; Fax: 0435-2442977 E-mail: sivaera@gmail.com Received: 06.10.2015; Revised: 20.10.2015; Accepted: 06.11.2015. many countries like India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Yamuna, South China (Reddy, 1990) and Bangladesh (Alam and Islam, 2005). However, due to some complexity and limitations of morphological characters was used is very necessity of traditional taxonomy. Besides, diverse difficulties in relying primarily on morphology when attempting to identify fishes during various stages of their development. Even, when intact adult specimens are available the morphological characters used to discern species can be subtle identification are difficult, even for trained