ABSTRACT A recent investigation provides the first molecular confirmation of the rare deep-sea cirrate octopod Opisthoteuthis philipii from the Arabian Sea, off the southwest coast of India. This finding marks a milestone in Indian marine biodiversity research, resolving a long-standing taxonomic uncertainty and contributing valuable molecular data for one of the least-known deep-sea cephalopods.

ABSTRACT Centriscus scutatus (grooved razorfish) is a lesser-known syngnathiform fish found in the Indo-West Pacific. This article reports the occurrence of Centriscus scutatus from Ashtamudi Lake, a brackish-water Ramsar site in Kerala, India. Ten specimens were accidentally collected from Chinese dip net catches in March 2024. Morphometric measurements and field observations were conducted to aid ecological and taxonomic studies. This marks the first recorded occurrence of Centriscus scutatus in the estuarine waters. The findings expand the known range of this species and highlight the estuarine habitat’s importance for its juveniles and adults.

ABSTRACT Foredune flora in coastal regions is a vital transitional zone, connecting salt-tolerant species from mangrove ecosystems to drought-resistant species less influenced by salinity. This study presents a comprehensive checklist of flora found on the foredunes of nearshore islands in Vietnam based on extensive field surveys. The checklist encompasses the following aspects: (1) species composition, (2) life forms, (3) habitat, and (4) economic potential. The species composition comprises 56 families, 136 genera, and 154 species. The families with the highest species diversity are Asteraceae (10.22%), Fabaceae (9.49%), Malvaceae (8.03%), Poaceae (6.57%), Rubiaceae (5.84%), and Apocynaceae (4.38%). Notably, 30 families are each represented by a single genus, collectively constituting 21.9% of the total genera. In terms of life forms, shrubs dominate the region (38.96%), followed by herbaceous plants (24.68%), woody plants (20.78%), and creeping plants (8.44%). Regarding economic potential, 80 species (51.95%) are utilized for medicinal purposes, 19 species (12.34%) for food, seven species (4.55%) for ornamental purposes, and two species (1.3%) for other uses. These plant species demonstrate substantial potential for enhancing the salt tolerance of conventional crops through breeding initiatives.

ABSTRACT This study characterizes the species diversity, richness, composition, and structure of avifauna in four riparian habitats (Bamoa, La Criba, Malecon, and Estero) along the Sinaloa River in northwest Mexico. The research was conducted from March to November 2024, employing the strip transect method and fixed-radius point count method for the bird survey. Data were analysed using the Shannon-Wiener, Simpson, and Margalef indices, relative abundance index, and Jaccard similarity coefficient. A total of 146 species were recorded across 19 orders and 47 families, with the order Passeriformes being the most represented. The Estero habitat exhibited the highest diversity and species richness, while Bamoa and La Criba showed the greatest similarity. The most abundant species were generalists adapted to human-altered environments (Zenaida asiatica, Tachycineta albilinea, Quiscalus mexicanus, and Passer domesticus). This study provides essential data for future conservation strategies in riparian ecosystems.

ABSTRACT Many gaps remain in understanding species evolution and distribution in Northeast Brazil, particularly in the Caatinga and Cerrado biomes. Our aims are to increase knowledge about the species of New World marsupials in the state of Piauí, identifying regions that are still poorly sampled, contributing to the delimitation of the geographic range of these species. We compiled online database data collection, scientific collection vouchers information and data from published articles. Twelve didelphid species were registred: Caluromys philander, Cryptonanus agricolai, Didelphis albiventris, Didelphis marsupialis, Gracilinanus agilis, Marmosa murina, Marmosa demerarae, Marmosops sp. Metachirus myosuros, Monodelphis domestica, Philander opossum, and Thylamys karimii. These represent about 18% of the Didelphidae occurring in Brazil. The survey revealed occurrences for 33 Piauí municipalities, representing only 12% of the state area. The extreme south and north of Piauí lack studies concerning marsupials, and parts of the centre-north and southeast are also poorly sampled. The results show an important geographic range increase for four species. Despite these results, Piauí is still an understudied region of the country. Valuable and immeasurable information may be lost due to degradation and loss of natural areas of Cerrado and Caatinga in the state.