Concerning Predation on Small Vertebrates by Alien Gold Morph Midas cichlid, (Cichlidae).

Neotropical cichlid possesses territorial aggression which explains their success as alien species that pose threats to local fauna. The feeding ecology of Midas cichlid, species outside its native range had never been fully understood. We aim to determine the stomach content, length-weight relationship and condition factor of this non-native species in one of the agroecosystems in Malaysia.

Uneven species occurrence and richness of lowland snakes (Serpentes, Squamata) in Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia, with new locality records.

This study documents information on the composition, diversity, richness, and temporal occurrence of snakes at Sekayu's lowland forest (SLF), Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia for the first time. The snakes recorded within the SLF were sampled opportunistically from 2013 to 2019, employing the Visual Encounter Survey method (VES) and L-shape pitfall traps with drift fences. Forty-six snake species from 37 genera belonging to the nine families were recorded, of which 11 were new records to Terengganu.

Freshwater fishes (Actinopterygii) of Kenyir Reservoir, Peninsular Malaysia: Updated checklist, taxonomic concerns and alien species.

Background: A total of 87 freshwater fish species from 30 families were recorded from the Kenyir Reservoir, Peninsular Malaysia, where 75 are native and 12 are introduced species. Few species still have unstable taxonomy identities which urge further studies. Most of the species were categorised as Least Concern (LC) and two were threatened species; Endangered and Critically Endangered (EN and CR).

Comments on the taxonomic status of Cyrtodactylus zebraicus Taylor, 1962 (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Northern Peninsular Malaysia.

The taxonomic status of Cyrtodactylus zebraicus in Peninsular Malaysia has been plagued with uncertainty over the last three decades owing to a lack of vouchered material. Recent collections confirmed the presence of this species in the northernmost state of Perlis and for the country. An expanded description of the newly collected Peninsular Malaysian specimens as well as the holotype of C.

A decade of amphibian studies (Animalia, Amphibia) at Sekayu lowland forest, Hulu Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.

Amphibians of Sekayu lowland forest have been studied more than a decade, with discoveries of new records of species showing no sign of abating between the years 2003 to 2020, indicating the remarkably rich diversity of anurans in this forest. Despite ceaseless anthropogenic activities in this area, this study successfully recorded 52 species of amphibians from 32 genera in the lowland forest of Sekayu. The species composition consisted of a single species from the family Ichthyophiidae and 51 species of anurans of 31 genera and six families.

Determination and risk assessment of pharmaceutical residues in the urban water cycle in Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.

The environmental fate of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the urban water cycle is still uncertain and their status is mainly assessed based on specific water components and information on human risk assessments. This study (a) explores the environmental fate of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, IBU; naproxen, NAP; ketoprofen, KET; diazepam, DIA; and diclofenac, DIC) in the urban water cycle, including wastewater, river, and treated water gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GCMS), (b) assesses the efficiency of reducing the targeted NSAIDs in sewage treatment plant (STP) using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and (c) evaluates the ecological risk assessment of these drugs in the urban water cycle teratogenic index (TI) and risk quotient (RQ). The primary receptor of contaminants comes from urban areas, as a high concentration of NSAIDs is detected (ranging from 5.

Low morphological and genetic variation within the glass-perchlet Parambassis siamensis (Teleostei: Ambassidae) in Peninsular Malaysia.

We compare several populations of the glass-perchlet Parambassis siamensis (Fowler 1937) (Teleostei: Ambassidae) sampled throughout Peninsular Malaysia to determine their degree of differentiation, using both morphological and molecular characters. Our morphological analyses do not show evidence for the presence of more than one species, with the range of morphometric and meristic characters overlapping among populations. Our genetic analysis using partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene coding for the protein cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) reveals the existence of two clades that diverge from each other by a minimum uncorrected p-distance of 2.

Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in a land-crab with advanced terrestrial adaptations: Molecular cloning and functional characterization of two fatty acyl elongases.

Depending on the presence and activities of the front-end fatty acyl desaturases and elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (Elovl) enzymes, animals have different capacities for long-chain (≥C) polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis. Successful land colonisation in brachyuran crabs requires a shift towards terrestrial food chain with limited LC-PUFA availability. We cloned and functionally characterised two elovl genes from the purple land crab Gecarcoidea lalandii.

Characterization of the first mitogenomes of the smallest fish in the world, Paedocypris progenetica, from peat swamp of Peninsular Malaysia, Selangor, and Perak.

The two complete mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of Paedocypris progenetica, the smallest fish in the world which belonged to the Cyprinidae family, were sequenced and assembled. The circular DNA molecules of mitogenomes P1-P. progenetica and S3-P.

The occurrence of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Malaysian urban domestic wastewater.

The water stream has been reported to contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), released from households and premises through discharge from Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). This research identifies commonly consumed NSAIDs namely ibuprofen (IBU), diclofenac (DIC), ketoprofen (KET) and naproxen (NAP) in the influent wastewater from two urban catchments (i.e.

How deep is deep enough? Analysis of sea turtle eggs nest relocation procedure at Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary.

Sea turtle eggs incubation involves natural and artificial incubation of eggs, and indeed the depth will be varied and presumably affect the development of hatchlings. For nest relocation, the researcher needs to decide on the depth to incubate the eggs. Sea turtle eggs clutches may vary between 40 and 120 eggs for the green turtle, thus using a single value as the standard procedure might affect the quality of hatchlings.

Strength enhancement of concrete using incinerated agricultural waste as supplementary cement materials.

The potassium (K) and sodium (Na) elements in banana are needed for hydration reaction that can enhance the strength properties of concrete. This research aims (a) to determine the material engineering properties of banana skin ash (BSA) and concrete containing BSA, (b) to measure the strength enhancement of concrete due to BSA, and (c) to identify optimal application of BSA as supplementary cement materials (SCM) in concrete. The BSA characterization were assessed through X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Blaine's air permeability.

Land-use change erodes trophic redundancy in tropical forest streams: Evidence from amino acid stable isotope analysis.

Studies have shown that food chain length is governed by interactions between species richness, ecosystem size and resource availability. While redundant trophic links may buffer impacts of species loss on food chain length, higher extinction risks associated with predators may result in bottom-heavy food webs with shorter food chains. The lack of consensus in earlier empirical studies relating species richness and food chain length reflects the need to account robustly for the factors described above.

Checklist of herpetofauna in the severely degraded ecosystem of Bidong Island, Peninsular Malaysia, South China Sea.

A herpetofaunal inventory was conducted on Bidong Island, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia. It incorporates data from a recent herpetological survey conducted from 1 to 3 April 2019 with reptile records from previous publications. Specimens were collected with drift-fenced pitfall traps and taxa were recorded with visual encounter surveys (VES).

A review on introduced spp. and emerging concerns.

Peacock bass ( spp.) originates from the Neotropical environments of Brazil and Venezuela but, through trade and smuggling for aquarium keeping, sport fishing and aquaculture, it is now an emerging concern. Yet, less is known for spp.

Bats data from fragmented forests in Terengganu State, Malaysia.

This data article is about bats observed from fragmented forest understories interspaced by agricultural plantations, utility corridors, and man-made structures within rural areas of Setiu (Bukit Kesing Forest Reserve and Ladang Tayor TDM) and Hulu Terengganu (Pengkalan Utama and Sungai Buweh, Kenyir) that are situated in Terengganu state, Peninsular Malaysia. Surveys were conducted from October 2018 until January 2019. These bats were captured using harp traps and mist nets that were set 30 m apart across flyways, streams, rivers and less cluttered trees in the 50 m transect zones (identified at each site).

Provisional checklist of freshwater fish diversity and distribution in Perak, Malaysia, and some latest taxonomic concerns.

This study investigates the published literature and incorporates our field data from 1997 to September 2018 to generate an inventory report of primary freshwater fishes for Perak State in Malaysia. We critically examined and enumerated 186 species from 2 classes, 16 orders, 43 families and 114 genera in 57 localities. A total of 173 fish species (91.

Species richness of riparian vegetation after three decades of Kenyir dam establishment.

This data article is on riparian vegetation species richness in four different streams located in the Sultan Mahmud Hydroelectric dam, also known as Kenyir dam and commonly referred to as Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu. The dataset consists of three reservoir-island streams and the other is a small stream located on the mainland. A total of 41 families and 90 species of riparian plants were reported for the first time after 34 years of the establishment of the Sultan Mahmud Hydroelectric dam.

Two new Tytthoscincus Linkem, Diesmos, Brown (Squamata; Scincidae) from Peninsular Malaysia and another case of microsyntopy between ecologically specialized, unrelated, leaf-litter species.

Two new species of diminutive, sympatric, lowland, leaf-litter skinks of the genus Tytthoscincus Linkem, Diesmos Brown from the Sekayu region of Hulu Terengganu, Terengganu State in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia are described on the basis genetic and morphological data. One of the new species, T. monticolus sp.

Taxonomic revision of the genus Poropuntius (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Peninsular Malaysia.

Up to three nominal species of the cyprinid fish genus Poropuntius (i.e. P.

The first riparian skink (Genus: Sphenomorphus Strauch, 1887) from Peninsular Malaysia and its relationship to other Indochinese and Sundaic species.

Recently discovered populations of skinks of the genus Sphenomorphus from central Peninsular Malaysia represent a new species, S. sungaicolus sp. nov.

On the taxonomy and phylogeny of the skinks Lipinia sekayuensis Grismer, Ismail, Awang, Rizal, & Ahmad and Lipinia surda Boulenger from Peninsular Malaysia.

An integrative taxonomic analysis based on additional specimens and color photographs of Lipinia sekayuensis and additional color photographs of L. surda from Pulau Tioman and the Gunung Panti Forest Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia confirm the previous hypotheses that L. sekayuensis is a valid species and is the sister species of L.

A new species of lowland skink (genus Lipinia Gray, 1845) from northeastern Peninsular Malaysia.

A new species of scincid lizard, Lipinia sekayuensis sp. nov. from Hutan Lipur Sekayu, Terengganu State in northeastern Peninsular Malaysia is most similar to L.

A new species of insular Rock Gecko (Genus Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887) from the Bidong Archipelago, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia.

A new insular species Cnemaspis bidongensis sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae), is described from Pulau Bidong, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia and bears a unique suite of morphological and color pattern characters that differentiate it from all other congeners.