Length–weight relationships of seven fish species from a fish landing port at Sungai Udang,Penang, Malaysia

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) are described for seven fish species from four families (Ariidae, Clupeidae, Leiognathidae and Sciaenidae) inhabiting Penang waters. A total of 471 specimens were sampled and measured from 19 to 20 January 2015, using a bottom trawl net with a 38 mm mesh size of cod‐end. No information regarding LWRs was reported previously in FishBase for Cryptarius truncatus, Escualosa thoracata, Johnius carouna, Nuchequula blochii, Plicofollis argyropleuron, Secutor hanedai or Secutor megalolepis, and the study also provides a new FishBase record of maximum total length for Escualosa thoracata (10.6 cm), Secutor hanedai (9.1 cm) and Secutor megalolepis (7.5 cm).     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of five threatened fish species from the Jamuna (Brahmaputra River tributary) River,northern Bangladesh

The small indigenous species, namely Ailiichthys punctata (Day, 1871), Botia lohachata (Chaudhuri, 1912), Chanda nama (Hamilton, 1822), Laubuca laubuca (Hamilton, 1822) and Mystus cavasius (Hamilton, 1822), comprise an important component of riverine fisheries of Bangladesh. This study describes the length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) of five threatened fishes from the Jamuna River, a distributary of the Brahmaputra River in northern Bangladesh. A total of 919 specimens from five species in five families used for this study were caught by traditional fishing gear, March 2010 through February 2011. The allometric coefficient (b) of the LWRs indicated negative allometric growth in A. punctata, B. lohachata, and C. nama (b < 3.00), but positive allometric growth in L. laubuca and M. cavasius (b > 3.00). Furthermore, the LLRs were highly correlated (r² > 0.978; P < 0.001). This study presents the first reference on LWRs and LLRs for these threatened species in Bangladesh. The results would be useful for sustainable management and conservation of the limited stocks in the Brahmaputra River ecosystem.     

Genetic divergence and evolutionary relationships in six species of genera Hoplobatrachus and Euphlyctis (Amphibia: Anura) from Bangladesh and other Asian countries revealed by mitochondrial gene sequences

To elucidate the species composition, genetic divergence, evolutionary relationships, and divergence time of Hoplobatrachus and Euphlyctis frogs (subfamily Dicroglossinae, family Ranidae) in Bangladesh and other Asian countries, we analyzed the mitochondrial Cyt b, 12S, and 16S rRNA genes of 252 specimens. Our phylogenetic analyses showed 13 major clades corresponding to several cryptic species as well as to nominal species in the two genera. The results suggested monophyly of Asian Hoplobatrachus species, but the position of African Hoplobatrachus occipitalis was not clarified. Nucleotide divergence and phylogenetic data suggested the presence of allopatric cryptic species allied to Euphlyctis hexadactylus in Sundarban, Bangladesh and several parapatric cryptic species in the Western Ghats, India. The presence of at least two allopatric cryptic species among diverged Euphlyctis cyanophlyctis in Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka was also suggested. In some cases, our estimated divergence times matched the paleogeological events of South and Southeast Asian regions that may have led to the divergence of Hoplobatrachus and Euphlyctis taxa. Especially, land formation at Bangladesh (15–10 Ma) may have allowed the spread of these frog taxa to Southeast Asian areas, and the aridification of central India (5.1–1.6 Ma) might have affected the gene flow of widely distributed species. The present study revealed prior underestimation of the richness of the amphibian fauna in this region, indicating the possible occurrence of many cryptic species among these groups.     

Length–weight relationships of three catfish species from a tributary of the Dhaleshwari River,Bangladesh

The present ichthyological report describes the length‐weight relationships (LWRs) of three catfish species (Eutropiichthys murius, Nangra nangra and Gagata viridescens) belonging to two families from the Kaliganga River, a tributary of the Dhaleshwari River, Bangladesh. The analyses included 306 specimens collected monthly from fishermen's catches during October 2015 to April 2016. Ranges of regression parameters a and b of the three species were within 0.0058–0.0099 and 2.900–3.142, respectively with highly correlated coefficients of determination (r² > .995; p < .001). The LWRs for all three species presented herein for the first time with a new maximum length record for N. nangra.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of two tropical fish Secutor megalolepis (Mochizuki & Hayashi, 1989) and Rhabdamia gracilis (Bleeker, 1856) from Sabah,Malaysia

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) and length‐length relationships (LLRs) for two tropical fish species from Marudu Bay, Sabah were studied. Specimens were caught with the traditional ‘Bagan net’ fishing gear from October 2012 to September 2013, using the light trap method. The maximum total length for Rhabdamia gracilis (7.4 cm) reported in this study is a new record for this species. No information regarding length‐weight relationships was reported previously in FishBase for either Secutor megalolepis or Rhabdamia gracilis.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of some small indigenous fish species from the Mathabhanga River, southwestern Bangladesh

The present study describes the length–weight (LWR) and length–length (LLR) relationships for eight important small indigenous fish species (SIS) from the Mathabhanga River, southwestern Bangladesh, namely Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton, 1822), Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793), Hyporamphus quoi (Valenciennes, 1847), Macrognathus aculeatus (Bloch, 1786), M. pancalus (Hamilton, 1822), Nandus nandus (Hamilton, 1822), Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822), and Setipinna phasa (Hamilton, 1822). A total of 2543 specimens used for this study was caught by traditional fishing gear from January to December 2005. To the best knowledge of the authors, this study presented the first reference on LWR and LLR for these species from Bangladeshi waters.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships and form factor of three threatened fishes from the Ganges River (NW Bangladesh)

Data and information are needed to avert the alarming decline and initiate conservation measures for three threatened fishes, Labeo boga (Hamilton, 1822), Nandus nandus (Hamilton, 1822) and Puntius ticto (Hamilton, 1822), from the Ganges River and surrounding ecosystems. These fishes are decreasing rapidly due to high fishing pressures as well as environmental degradation. This study furnishes the length–weight relationships (LWRs), length–length relationships (LLRs) and form factor (a_3.0) of these three threatened species from the Ganges River, northwestern Bangladesh. A total of 773 specimens from the three species and two families used for this study were caught by traditional fishing gear between April 2011 and March 2012. The analysis of covariance (ancova ) revealed significant differences between the sexes in LWRs for L. boga (P < 0.001), but not with the remaining species (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the LLRs were highly correlated (r² > 0.983; P < 0.001), and ancova analyses additionally indicated that LLRs did not differ between sexes (P > 0.05). The calculated form factor (a_3.0) was 0.0111, 0.0159 and 0.0129 for L. boga, N. nandus and P. ticto, respectively. This study presents the first references on LWRs, LLRs and form factor for these three threatened species in Bangladesh. The results would be useful for further studies on the population assessment and sustainable conservation of the limited stocks in the Ganges River ecosystem.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of three Ambassid fishes from the Ganges River (NW Bangladesh)

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) and length–length relationships (LLRs) are presented for the first time for three Ambassid fish species from the Ganges River, northwestern (NW) Bangladesh. Fish were sampled with traditional fishing gear including cast net (mesh size ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 cm), gill net (mesh size ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 cm), square lift net (mesh size ~ 1.0 cm) and conical and box trap, October 2014 to September 2015. Allometric coefficient (b) values were 3.00 for Chanda nama, 3.10 for Parambassis lala and 3.23 for Parambassis ranga, respectively. Additionally, the LLRs were highly significant with r² ≥ .958. The present observations would be an effective tool for their stock assessment in the Ganges River, NW Bangladesh and surrounding ecosystems.     

Population genetics of fruit bat reservoir informs the dynamics,distribution and diversity of Nipah virus

The structure and connectivity of wildlife host populations may influence zoonotic disease dynamics, evolution and therefore spillover risk to people. Fruit bats in the genus Pteropus, or flying foxes, are the primary natural reservoir for henipaviruses—a group of emerging paramyxoviruses that threaten livestock and public health. In Bangladesh, Pteropus medius is the reservoir for Nipah virus—and viral spillover has led to human fatalities nearly every year since 2001. Here, we use mitochondrial DNA and nuclear microsatellite markers to measure the population structure, demographic history and phylogeography of P. medius in Bangladesh. We combine this with a phylogeographic analysis of all known Nipah virus sequences and strains currently available to better inform the dynamics, distribution and evolutionary history of Nipah virus. We show that P. medius is primarily panmictic, but combined analysis of microsatellite and morphological data shows evidence for differentiation of two populations in eastern Bangladesh, corresponding to a divergent strain of Nipah virus also found in bats from eastern Bangladesh. Our demographic analyses indicate that a large, expanding population of flying foxes has existed in Bangladesh since the Late Pleistocene, coinciding with human population expansion in South Asia, suggesting repeated historical spillover of Nipah virus likely occurred. We present the first evidence of mitochondrial introgression, or hybridization, between P. medius and flying fox species found in South‐East Asia (P. vampyrus and P. hypomelanus), which may help to explain the distribution of Nipah virus strains across the region.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leiognathus aureus</Emphasis> complex (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new species

Taxonomic analysis of a group of morphologically similar ponyfishes (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) establishes a complex comprising three valid species: Leiognathus aureus Abe and Haneda, 1972, widely distributed in the western Pacific Ocean (Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and northern Australia); L. hataii Abe and Haneda, 1972, currently known only from Ambon, Indonesia; and L. panayensis sp. nov. Kimura and Dunlap, currently known only from Panay Island, the Philippines. The L. aureus complex can be defined by the following combination of characters: mouth protruding forward, not downward; small but sharp conical teeth uniserially on jaws; a black line between lower margin of eye and lower jaw articulation; and lateral line incomplete, ending below posterior part of dorsal fin base or on anterior caudal peduncle. Leiognathus hataii differs from both L. aureus and L. panayensis in having a large dark blotch below the spinous dorsal fin base and fewer counts of scales (lateral line scales 50–58 vs. 64–85 in the latter two species; scales above lateral line 7–10 vs. 12–18; scales below lateral line 22–26 vs. 30–41). Leiognathus panayensis is distinguished from L. aureus in having a deeper body (41–51% SL vs. 35–45% SL in the latter), long posterior limb of maxilla (21–25% HL vs. 15–23% HL), wholly scaled belly (vs. naked along preanal median keel), and a dark blotch on nape (vs. absent).     

中国哥纳香属(番荔枝科)植物新资料

番荔枝科(Annonaceae)是基部被子植物木兰目(Magnoliales)中较进化且物种数最多的科。目前的系统发育研究将番荔枝科划分为4个亚科,即蒙蒿子亚科(Anaxagoreoideae)、澄光木亚科(Ambavioideae)、番荔枝亚科(Annonoideae)和排石木亚科(Malmeoideae),有107属,2 400多种,中国原产21 属约110 种。番荔枝科泛热带分布,是热带植物区系的优势类群,中国云南盈江位于云南省最西部边境,与缅甸东北部接壤,并与印度的东阿萨姆较近,植物区系处于东南亚(印度—马来西亚)热带生物区系向东亚亚热带-温带生物区系的过渡地带,属典型热带北缘性质,在植被地理和生物地理上十分重要,成为生物多样性保护的关键和热点地区。该区的热带雨林是印度阿萨姆和缅甸北部的热带雨林向东和向北扩散分布的边缘类型,是东南亚热带雨林在纬度和海拔分布上的极限类型。该文报道了采自中国云南省盈江县,引种保存于中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园的番荔枝科哥纳香属2个中国新记录种,即皱叶哥纳香 [Goniothalamus sesquipedalis(Colebr. ex Wall.)Hook. f. & Thomson]和长梗哥纳香(G. peduncularis King & Prain)。Flora of China将盈江哥纳香(G. lii X. L. Hou & Y. M. Shui)处理为云南哥纳香(G. yunnanensis W. T. Wang)的异名,基于活植物观察、馆藏标本和文献研究,该文对盈江哥纳香的分类地位进行了澄清,将其处理为长梗哥纳香的异名。皱叶哥纳香原记载产于印度、孟加拉国和缅甸等地,长梗哥纳香仅产于缅甸,该文对它们进行了补充描述,并提供彩色图版以便于鉴别。凭证标本存放于中国科学院西双版纳热带植物园标本馆(HITBC)。哥纳香属2个新记录的发现,丰富了中国番荔枝科植物多样性的认识,为中国云南热带植物区系属于热带亚洲(印度—马来西亚)植物区系,以及与缅甸北部、印度东北部植物区系的关系增加了例证。     

The mycoflora and incidence of aflatoxin,zearalenone and sterigmatocystin in dairy feed and forage samples from Eastern India and Bangladesh

The mycoflora of a range of mixed ruminant feed and forage samples collected in Eastern India and Bangladesh were determined. Most fungi isolated from the samples were those associated with low moisture contents. Several potentially mycotoxigenic fungi and thermotolerant species were present particularly in the rice straw. The most frequently isolated fungi were: Aspergillus versicolor (Vuill.) Tiraboschi, Penicillium citrinum Thorn, Eurotium species, Wallemia sebi (Fr.) v. Arx, Aspergillus penicilloides Speg. and yeasts. Fusarium moniliforme Sheldon and Cladosporium species were prevalent in straw but not other feeds. Levels of certain individual fungi, particularly thermotolerant types, were higher in Bangladesh rice straw although overall counts were similar to those of the Indian samples. Mycotoxin analyses for aflatoxins, zearalenone and sterigmatocystin were carried out. Aflatoxins were detected in significant amounts in some feed samples from Eastern India but not in rice straw from India and Bangladesh. Zearalenone occurred in a Paspalum straw sample and three other feed samples from India and sterigmatocystin was detected in three rice straw samples from Bangladesh.     

Historical demography and genetic differentiation of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in Bangladesh based on mitochondrial and ddRAD sequence variation

Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the giant freshwater prawn, is an important source of high quality protein and occurs naturally in rivers as well as commercial farms in South and South‐East Asia, including Bangladesh. This study investigated the genetic variation and population structure of M. rosenbergii sampled from four rivers in Bangladesh (sample size ranged from 19 to 20), assessing sequence variation, both in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene and in 106 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) sampled randomly from the genome with double digest RAD sequencing (ddRADseq). The mitochondrial variation presented a shallow genealogy with high haplotype diversity (h = 0.95), reflecting an expansion in population size for the last ~82 kyr. Based on the CO1 variation the current effective population size (N_e) was 9.7 × 10⁶ (CI: 1.33 × 10⁶ – 35.84 × 10⁶) individuals. A significant population differentiation was observed with the mitochondrial CO1 sequence variation and based on the ddRADseq variation, which could be traced to the divergence of the population in the Naf River in the South‐East border with Myanmar from the other populations. A differentiation in mtDNA haplotype frequencies was also observed between the Biskhali River and the Karnaphuli Rivers in eastern Bangladesh. This study demonstrated the use of high‐throughput genotyping based on the ddRADseq method to reveal population structure at a small geographical scale for an important freshwater prawn. The information from this study can be utilized for management and conservation of this species in Bangladesh.     

Length–weight relationships of three carangid fish species Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833), Uraspis uraspis (Günther, 1860) and Carangiodes oblongus (Cuvier, 1833) from the Bay of Bengal coast,Bangladesh

Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were determined for three Carangid fish, [Alepes vari (Cuvier, 1833), Uraspis uraspis (Günther, 1860) and Carangiodes oblongus (Cuvier, 1833)] inhabiting in the Bay of Bengal coast, Bangladesh. A total of 147 individuals of three species were sampled from four different sampling points of the Bay of Bengal coast, Bangladesh and examined from April 2017 to October 2017. Fishermen operated beach seine nets (mesh size BSN, 30 mm) and drift gillnet (10.5 cm) twice in each sampling campaign to catch the studied species. The calculated value for parameter “b” of LWRs were 3.003, 2.945 and 2.980 for A. vari, U.uraspis and C. oblongus, respectively.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of four small fishes from the Atrai River,Dinajpur, Bangladesh

Length‐weight (LWRs) and length‐length relationships (LLRs) were determined for four fish species collected from the Atari River in Dinajpur of Bangladesh. Sampling took place monthly between January and June 2016, using seine nets of commercial fishermen (mesh size 4 mm). In LWRs (r² > .927, p < .05), slope (b) was estimated as 3.191, 2.992, 3.217 and 3.109 for Acanthocobitis botia, Botia lohachata, Canthophrys gongota and Chanda nama, respectively. In LLRs (r² > .812, p < .05), lengths i.e. TL, SL, HL and FL were highly correlated. The present study on these species would be the baseline for FishBase dataset.     

Embryonic development of the threatened freshwater pipefish Microphis deocata (Hamilton, 1822)

The present study provides the first comprehensive embryonic development of the freshwater Syngnathid fish species, Microphis deocata (Hamilton), a Near Threatened pipefish endemic to the Brahmaputra River drainage in Northeast India and Bangladesh. Microphis deocata is a Gastrophori species as the males develop an abdominal brood pouch. Mature individuals were collected and maintained in well-aerated aquaria under controlled conditions to induce natural spawning. The number of eggs within the males' brood pouch ranged from 17 to 22 (for n = 10), measuring 0.7–1.0 mm in diameter. A total of 10 developmental stages could be recognized under four developmental periods namely, early embryogenesis, eye development, snout formation and juvenile. However, sensitivity, and therefore mortality, while handling of this species restricted the study from reporting the exact time intervals for stages following the blastodisc formation ~48 hr post fertilization. A newborn larvae measures ~14 mm and is free-swimming with distinct dorsal fin (with 31–32 rays) and a sector-shaped caudal fin (with 8–9 rays). The study aims to provide baseline information on the embryology of M. deocata in culture condition which will be helpful for future studies on conservation biology, population status and management of this species.     

Length–weight relationship of six indigenous fish species from Deepor beel,a Ramsar site in Assam,India

Length–weight relationships for six small indigenous fish species, namely: Trichogaster chuna (Hamilton, 1822), Trichogaster lalius (Hamilton, 1822), Trichogaster fasciata Bloch & Schneider, 1801, Chanda nama Hamilton, 1822, Parambassis lala (Hamilton, 1822), and Macrognathus aral (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) were studied for the first time from Deepor beel, a Ramsar site (589 ha water spread area) located in Assam, India. A total of 617 fish specimens were collected for the present study on a monthly basis from February to August in 2016 from landing centres adjoining the beel. In the present study, b value ranges from 2.778 to 3.215, which is within the normal range. The LWRs for these six fish species from Deepor beel had not yet been reported for FishBase.     

Length–weight relationships of three fish species from the Arial Khan River,an outlet of the river Padma,Bangladesh

The present study narrated the length–weight relationships (LWRs) of three fish species Salmophasia sardinella (Valenciennes, 1844), Amblypharyngodon microlepis (Bleeker, 1853) and Macrognathus aral (Bloch & Scheider, 1801) from the Arial Khan River, a south‐eastward outlet of the river Padma, Bangladesh. Fish samples were collected monthly basis from fishermen who used cast nets (mesh size <0.5 cm) and set bag nets (mesh size 0.5 cm) for catching fish species from January to December, 2016. The growth coefficient b in LWRs were 3.004, 3.001 and 2.936 for M. aral, S. sardinella and A. microlepis, respectively.     

The Leiognathus splendens complex (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) with the description of a new species, Leiognathus kupanensis Kimura and Peristiwady

Taxonomic analysis of a group of morphologically similar ponyfishes (Perciformes: Leiognathidae) establishes the Leiognathus splendens complex comprising four valid species: L. jonesi James, 1971, widely distributed in the Indo-West Pacific, from Mauritius to Papua New Guinea, north to Hainan I. (China), and south to Brisbane, Australia; L. kupanensis sp. nov., currently known only from Kupang, Timor, Indonesia; L. rapsoni Munro, 1964, currently known only from India, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea, and L. splendens Cuvier, 1829, widely distributed in the eastern Indian and western Pacific oceans, from India to Papua New Guinea, and from southern Japan to northern Australia. The L. splendens complex can be defined by the following combination of characters: body depth 42–60% of standard length; mouth protruding downward; slender, minute teeth uniserially on jaws; lower margin of orbit above the horizontal through the gape when mouth closed; breast almost completely scaled; lateral line complete, and a dark blotch on top of spinous dorsal fin. Diagnostic characters of the members are as follows: L. jonesi—anterior dorsolateral body surface with a semicircular naked area on nape, and a paler dark blotch on spinous dorsal fin; L. kupanensis—anterior dorsolateral body surface widely naked; L. rapsoni—cheek scaled; L. splendens—anterior dorsolateral body surface completely scaled and a jet black blotch on spinous dorsal fin.     

Length–weight relationships of 12 indigenous fish species in the Gajner Beel floodplain (NW Bangladesh)

The length–weight relationships (LWRs) were studied for 814 individuals covering eight families and 12 species of fish, e.g., Botia dario, Botia lohachata, Channa orientalis, Esomus danricus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Macrognathus pancalus, Nandus nandus, Ompok pabda, Pethia phutunio, Pethia ticto, Trichogaster fasciata and Trichogaster lalius captured from the Gajner beel floodplain, northwestern (NW) Bangladesh. Samples were collected occasionally from catches of fishermen from November 2014 to October 2015 using different types of traditional fishing gear, including gill net (mesh size ranges from 1.0 to 3.0 cm), cast net (mesh size ranges from 1.0 to 2.0 cm), square lift net (mesh size ~1.0 cm) and conical and box trap. The total length (TL) and body weight (BW) were measured for each individual. The allometric co‐efficient b values ranged between 2.64 (B. lohachata) to 3.27 (N. nandus) and were highly significant, with p < .001 for all species. Additionally, for the first time, the study provides LWR information for B. dario, B. lohachata, E. danricus, O. pabda, T. lalius and P. phutunio, beneficial for fishery biologists and to update the online database (FishBase). The study also recorded a maximum length for P. phutunio. The present observations are significant for the sustainable management and conservation of these fishes in the Gajner beel floodplain, NW Bangladesh and the surrounding ecosystems.