Abstract

In this paper a genetic divergence was estimated between two species of jack mackerel belonging to the genus Trachurus, inhabiting the northwestern and southeastern Pacific. One of the species is from the Japan Sea, identified as T. japonicus and the other one is from Talcahuano, (Chile) identified as T. symmetricus murphyi. 24 enzymatics loci were identified through the analysis of 15 isoenzymes, using starch gels electrophoresis. Samples showed genetic differences in five diagnostic loci: EST-1, EST-3, EST-D, ?-GPDH and GAPDH. The value of the genetic identity was 0.792 and a genetic distance equal to 0.234, which indicates that there are differences at the subspecies level. These results are discussed in terms of the taxonomic status of the species.