The normal and lateral line scales from above the head and four flank regions were investigated in two goatfishes by using light microscopy to evaluate the microscopic characteristics of scale surface ornamentation from different body parts of these fishes and to add new morphological data for their discrimination. The body scales were removed and digital images captured with a Dino‐Lite digital camera connected to a Leica compound microscope. The presence of both transverse and longitudinal radii was a distinctive characteristic for the scales of studied goatfishes. The most distinctive features of the key scales discriminating the two goatfishes were the scale shape, the presence of irregular grooves in scale surface, the presence of transverse radii in the lateral fields, and the availability of lepidont at the anterior field. The lateral line scale ornamentations were almost similar in two species; however, the lateral line canal was branching in Parupeneus heptacanthus. Scale extension index indicated that in both species, the dimension of normal key scales tends to the right, while the dimension of lateral line scales tends to the left. This study accentuated that scales from different body regions may exhibit variation in surface ornamentations, that scale morphology could successfully be used to discriminate the examined goatfishes, and that the use of fish scale microscopy is an easy and relatively rapid method and does not require fish sacrifice. Since fish identification is essential for the conservation and management of species, the use of scale morphology to this purpose appears particularly promising.

The Persian Gulf is known as the westernmost distribution limit for sea snakes, except for Hydrophis platurus (Linnaeus, 1766) that reaches southeastern Africa. Previous identification guides for sea snakes of the Persian Gulf and its adjacent waters in the Gulf of Oman were based on old data and confined mostly to written descriptions. Therefore, a series of field surveys were carried out in 2013 and 2014 through Iranian coastal waters of both gulfs to provide a comprehensive sampling of sea snakes in the area. This paper presents an illustrated and updated checklist and identification tool for sea snakes in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, which are based on new material and a review of the literature. This checklist includes ten species of marine hydrophiines, of which one, Microcephalophis cantoris (Günther, 1864), is a new record for the area. All specimens examined herein are deposited and available at the Zoological Museum of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Kerman province, Iran.

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Mangroves are coastal ecosystems, found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world. They are found in the transitional zones between land, sea, and rivers. Petroleum hydrocarbons are the most common environmental pollutants, and oil spills pose a great hazard to mangroves forests. This research was focused on the isolation and characterization of crude oil‐degrading bacteria from mangrove ecosystems at the Persian Gulf. Sixty‐one crude oil‐degrading bacteria were isolated from mangrove samples (plant, sediment, and seawater) that enriched in ONR7a medium with crude oil as only carbon source. Some screening tests such as growth at high concentration of crude oil, bioemulsifier production, and surface hydrophobicity were done to select the most efficient strains for crude oil degradation. Molecular identification of strains was carried out by amplification of the 16S rRNA gene by PCR. The results of this study were indicated that the quantity of crude oil‐degrading bacteria was higher in the root of mangrove plants compare to other mangrove samples (sediment and seawater). Also, identification results confirmed that these isolated strains belong to Vibrio sp. strain NW4, Idiomarina sp. strain BW32, Kangiella sp. strain DP40, Marinobacter sp. strain DW44, Halomonas sp. strain BS53, and Vibrio sp. strain DS35. The application of bioremediation strategies with these bacteria can reduce crude oil pollution in this important marine environment.