In spite of D. lamillai's comparisons with several species in its genus, the morphologically comparable Zearaja brevicaudata, the most abundant longnose skate in the Southwest Atlantic, was not appropriately contrasted. Comparative morphological and molecular analyses were conducted to determine if the observed species were indeed the same. A Principal Component Analysis was conducted to explore the linear morphometric variation between the holotype and paratypes of D. lamillai and 69 specimens of Z. brevicaudata. Comparisons were made regarding thorn patterns, denticle distributions, color, and clasper morphology, in addition. No variations in body proportions or any other single feature could be identified to distinguish D. lamillai from Z. brevicaudata. Cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2) were employed in a molecular analysis to compare the genetic relationships. The results from Maximum Likelihood (ML) analyses showed that DNA sequences from *D. lamillai* clustered closely with those from *Z. brevicaudata*, and the Kimura two-parameter molecular distance was found to be lower than expected for separate species. BGJ398 datasheet The Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery procedure, along with the Bayesian Poisson tree process model, was applied to COI sequence data to delimit species, and the subsequent results were in alignment with those from maximum likelihood analysis. In summation, the outcomes of the study displayed an absence of morphological or molecular differences amongst the named species within the valid skate genus Zearaja, thereby justifying their classification as conspecific. Subsequently, Z. brevicaudata was established as a senior synonym for D. lamillai.

*Stolephorus taurus* sp., the Bengal Spined Anchovy, holds a significant ecological role. Twenty-one specimens originating from the northern Bay of Bengal are referenced in the account of November. The new species is remarkably similar to the redescribed Stolephorus dubiosus Wongratana, 1983. These species possess similar traits, including a predorsal scute, a pelvic scute spine, a maxilla reaching nearly or quite the rear of the opercle, 25 or more gill rakers on the first gill arch's lower limb, and a double black line pattern on the back area situated behind the dorsal fin. While sharing some characteristics with S. dubiosus, this new species exhibits a distinct feature: a longer pelvic fin, with its posterior tip situated further back than the vertical line intersecting the dorsal fin's origin. The presence of extended pectoral fins, which generally do not reach the vertical height of the dorsal fin origin, coupled with lengthened second and third dorsal fin rays, second and third anal fin rays, and a broader interorbital region, are distinctive features. Stolephorus taurus, a species, unfortunately, was stolen. Nov. is closely related to Stolephorus baganensis Delsman, 1931 and S. dubiosus; however, at least a 2% mean p-distance divergence is evident in the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, separating the three species. The evolutionary history of Stolephorus's prepelvic scute count, as depicted in the phylogenetic reconstruction, suggests an initial state of six, subsequently reduced to five or four scutes. Amongst the recent evolutionary changes, there's been a decrease in the lineage of Stolephorus taurus sp. The JSON schema includes a list of sentences, each rewritten in a different structural pattern compared to the original.

In the tropical Indo-West Pacific, the genus Oxyurichthys encompasses a variety of goby fish. Estuarine and coastal marine environments serve as the typical habitats for Oxyurichthys species. The fishing market in Southeast Asia relies on trawling to acquire and supply commercial fish to meet demand. Fish mitogenomes offer substantial insights into species relationships and historical development; nonetheless, the mitogenome of Oxyurichthys species continues to elude researchers. Our investigation focused on the comparative analysis of mitogenomes from O. ophthalmonema and O. microlepis, two Oxyurichthys gobies. O. ophthalmonema's mitogenome contained 16504 base pairs, and O. microlepis's contained 16506 base pairs. In terms of their gene content and structural organization, the mitogenomes of the two species were strikingly similar. Both groups displayed 37 genes and a command center. Polymicrobial infection The mitogenomes of the two Oxyurichthys species exhibited a resemblance in gene structure and nucleotide composition to documented gobies. bioconjugate vaccine Both species showcased conserved blocks, specifically CSB-1, CSB-2, CSB-3, and CSB-D, positioned within their respective control regions. Using a concatenated dataset of 13 protein-coding genes and 2 ribosomal RNA genes, phylogenetic analyses placed the two Oxyurichthys species in a clade closely related to species of the Sicydium, Sicyopterus, and Stiphodon genera, making them sister taxa. This present study's findings regarding goby evolution concur with earlier evolutionary studies that used different molecular markers.

Pseudocypretta amor, a remarkable species, continues to intrigue researchers. The output of this JSON schema is a list of sentences, each rewritten to achieve a novel and different structural form compared to the original. From all-female populations in Brazil's four primary floodplains, this species, featuring carapace spots resembling the word 'Love,' is presented here. A comparison of the novel species to the existing two species within the genus, P. maculata Klie (1932), the prototypical species, and P. lineata Ma and Yu (2020), is undertaken. The genus's recent expansion into South America is substantial, given the previous, exclusive presence of its two subspecies in Southeast Asia and China. Several morphological characteristics pertinent to this genus and species are elaborated. These include marginal septa in the valves, the candonid type T3 exhibiting separated third and fourth segments, and the caudal ramus' reduction to a flagellum or its complete absence. In light of its close relationship to Cyprettadopsis Savatenalinton, 2020, Pseudocypretta's taxonomic placement is adjusted, transferring it from the Cyprettinae to the Cyprettadopsini tribe, a subgroup of the Cypridopsinae. Further consideration is given to the presence of candonid type T3, whose pincer-like tip results from the merging of the 3rd and 4th segments, in the Cyprididae and Notodromadidae families.

Variations in male morphotypes in a crustacean species are sometimes accompanied by social dominance hierarchy development. Currently, the largest recorded number of species within the decapod crustacean genus Macrobrachium exhibit hierarchical developments. Male social dominance is reflected in the morphological characteristics observed within Macrobrachium olfersii populations. Subsequently, the present research investigated the occurrence of male morphotypes in M. olfersii through a morphometric and morphological investigation of the chelipeds. Sampling across seven locations along the Jequitinhonha River, within the Northeast region of Brazil, spanned the timeframe from March 2018 to October 2021. In the collected samples, 264 male subjects were present, showcasing carapace lengths (CL) from 401 mm to 2370 mm. Estimating the size of morphological sexual maturity yielded a standard length (CL) measurement of 895 mm. The morphometric and morphological data collectively demonstrated the presence of three adult male morphotypes, which were labelled M1, M2, and M3. The different morphotypes were primarily defined by the differences in size, shape, and morphology of the largest cheliped belonging to the second pair of pereopods. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in morphometric relationships was observed among the three morphotypes, with a pronounced divergence between morphotype M3 and both M1 and M2. It was clear that propodus shape varied considerably. A significant disparity (p < 0.001) existed between morphotypes regarding spine traits and their angulation, where the propodus of morphotype M3 demonstrated greater robustness and a higher density of spines than the other morphotypes. Resource competition benefits dominant individuals, whose social standing and enlarged chelipeds provide an edge. Morphological traits in these individuals contribute to their success in combat and ensure access to the best resources, including shelter, food, and desirable partners. We uncover fresh details about *M. olfersii*'s biology, the wider Macrobrachium genus, and the existence of social dominance within that group through our research. In parallel, a comprehensive description of these morphotypes, utilizing complementary morphological and morphometrical techniques, enables a study of the varied morphology within M. olfersii males, and further validates a life history trait observed in many Macrobrachium species.

Fin whales, a species with a worldwide distribution, occupy the largest bodies of water on Earth. In the Southeast Asian tropics, including Malaysia, fin whale literature is scarce, leading to uncertainty surrounding their regional distribution. In this study, the analysis of fresh skin and blubber from a deceased fin whale stranded on the South China Sea coast of Sabah (Borneo, Malaysia) was undertaken to establish the species, ascertain potential dietary elements, and identify any traces of contamination by elements. The whale's DNA profile results unequivocally demonstrated its classification as Balaenoptera physalus. A further examination of its cytochrome b gene sequence revealed a close kinship with the southern fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus quoyi). The observation reveals that fin whales do, in fact, travel to warm tropical seas, and their global distribution continuously encompasses the equatorial region. The fatty acid profiles, including C18:0, C16:1, C18:1n9t, and C16:0, mirrored the pelagic plankton diet typical of whales migrating through the South China Sea's tropical waters. Due to their need to forage in pelagic zones, whales are predominantly offshore, thereby explaining their infrequent observations in shallow coastal areas during their migration. The concentration of potassium, calcium, scandium, magnesium, and aluminum fell within a range of 0.45 to 7.80 grams per gram, but chromium, cadmium, arsenic, and lead demonstrated either exceptionally low or non-detectable concentrations.