*3.3. DNA Barcoding of Selected Coral Species*

Although most species could be identified from morphological characteristics alone, some that were difficult to distinguish morphologically and those considered rare were subjected to DNA barcoding to identify them with greater certainty. Based on the NCBI GenBank database sequences, the best match for each of the samples studied is shown in Table 5, together with the respective accession numbers. There were seven mitochondrial *COI* gene barcode sequences recorded that represented six new records for Sri Lanka: four species from the genus *Acropora*, including two samples of *A. gemmifera*, and one species each from the genera *Montipora* (*M. flabellata*) and *Echinopora* (*E. gemmacea*) (Figure 6, Table 5). The COI barcode sequences for all the samples showed a >99% similarity to the respective sequences recorded in GenBank.

**Table 5.** List of samples sequenced in this study and the most closely related barcodes found in GenBank, together with their accession numbers, and the publisher of the sequence.


**Figure 6.** Species subjected to DNA barcoding: (**a**) Acropora aspera, (**b**) Acropora digitifera, (**c**) Acropora gemmifera, (**d**) Acropora hyacinthus, (**e**) Montipora flabellata, (**f**) Echinopora gemmacea.
