Abstract. Md-Zain BM, Abid-Kamal SNA, Aifat NR, Abdul-Latiff MAB, Mohd-Hashim A, Ampeng A, Yaakop S, Samat A. 2018.Molecular identification of shark fins in Malaysian Borneo’s local markets. Biodiversitas 19: 1035-1043. A molecular study was carriedout to investigate the potential of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene as a molecular marker for the genetic identification ofshark fin samples that have gone through various preservation processes. A total number of 17 shark fin samples were collected fromlocal markets in Sabah and Sarawak (Malaysian Borneo). The DNA sequences of the 17 samples were amplified by using polymerasechain reaction. The results from the analysis showed that, in the 17 sequences, there were 16 haplotypes present, with 244 sites from 688bp of the sequences. For phylogeny analysis, tree topologies were reconstructed using the neighbor-joining (NJ) and maximumparsimony (MP) methods. DNA barcoding technique successfully identifies shark fins collected in local markets in Malaysian Borneo atspecies level employed during this study. Phylogenetic analysis showed that there were four clades that distinguish the four differentorders present in the sample species. These clades had bootstrap values higher than 80. In addition, results indicated that 88.2% of theindividuals are listed as endangered (Lamiopsis tephrodes, Sphyrna mokarran, and Sphyrna lewini), vulnerable (Alopias pelagicus andRhynchobatus australiae), and near threatened (Carcharhinus limbatus, Chiloscyllium griseum, Carcharhinus sorrah, and Carcharhinusbrevipinna), in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Data List.

Accordingto Groves (2001), andMootnick (2006), these five subspecies exhibit different morphological characteristics (Table 1).Systematic relationships in gibbons are still controversial. Previous investigations on the chromosomal, morphological, and behavioral features of gibbons have been utilized to attempt to resolve this. Garza and Woodruff (1992) reported mitochondrial Cytochrome b (Cyt b) variations in Hylobates. Other investigators also utilized partial mitochondrial genes to study interspecific and intergeneric differences in the Hylobatidae family (

This article contains data of the sequence variation in the mitochondrial DNA D-loop region of the Malayan gaur ( Bos gaurus hubbacki ), locally known as the seladang, from two captive centers. Thirty fecal samples of Malayan gaur were collected from Jenderak Selatan Wildlife Conservation Center (Pahang) and the Sungkai Wildlife Reserve (Perak) for DNA extraction and amplification with polymerase chain reactions. DNA sequences were then analyzed using neighbor joining (NJ) and maximum parsimony (MP) methods. Based on the 652 base pairs obtained, we found seven variable characters with a value of 1%. The genetic distance between the two captive centers was 0.001. Haplotype analyses detected only four haplotypes between these two captive centers. Both NJ and MP trees demonstrate that all individuals in the Jenderak and Sungkai captive centers are in the same clade. Genetic variation of the Malayan gaur in these centers is considered low, possibly because individuals share the same common parent. This sequence variation data are of paramount importance for designing a proper breeding and management program of the Malayan gaur in the future.

Abstract. Md-Zain BM, Mohhoyua KS, Aifat NR, Ngadi E, Ayob N, Rovie-Ryan JJ, Ampeng A, Mohd-Ridwan AR, Blair ME, Abdul-Latiff MAB. 2019. Molecular data confirm the presence of Nycticebus bengalensis on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Biodiversitas 20: 1115-1120. Recent taxonomic reviews have stated the possibility of Bengal Slow Loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) presence in the Northern part of the Malay Peninsula. This study aims to confirm the presence of the Bengal Slow Loris in Malaysia by sequencing the mitochondrial COI gene from samples collected from Langkawi Island, Peninsular Malaysia, and Borneo. Phylogenetic analyses produced tree topologies that support the grouping of slow loris samples by their localities. The tree topologies further show that slow loris samples from Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia form two distinct clades. The clade from Peninsular Malaysia was divided into two subclades, Langkawi and Selangor. The Langkawi slow loris subclade includes sequences from GenBank representing N. bengalensis, supported by a high bootstrap value. This mitochondrial DNA finding has a significant contribution to indicate the presence of the Bengal Slow Loris in Malaysia.

No abstract