A new species of Larimichthys from Terengganu, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is described from specimens collected from the fish landing port at Pulau Kambing, Kuala Terengganu. Larimichthys terengganui can be readily distinguished from other species of the genus by having an equally short pair of ventral limbs at the end of the gas bladder appendages, which do not extend lateral-ventrally to the lower half of the body wall, and fewer dorsal soft rays (29-32 vs. 31-36) and vertebrae (24 vs. 25-28). Larimichthys terengganui can be distinguished from L. polyactis and L. crocea by having a gill raker at the angle of first gill arch shorter than the gill filament. Furthermore, the second anal spine in L. terengganui is equal or slightly shorter than eye diameter (vs. shorter in L. polyactis); L. terengganui has 8-9 anal soft rays (vs. only 7 in L. pamoides). Snout length of L. terengganui is greater than eye diameter, whereas in L. crocea the snout is shorter than eye diameter. A key to species of Larimichthys is provided. All obtained specimens of the species were recorded from Terengganu waters, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Given the identification of the new species Johnius taiwanesis, the Johnius genus in Taiwanese water is here reviewed through a collection of field samples, museum specimens, and a review of the Taiwanese scientific literature. Seven valid Johnius species were successfully identified and distinguished based on gill raker length, tip of upper jaw to mouth hinge length, tip of lower jaw to mouth hinge length, and length of second spine of anal fin. Our phylogenetic tree based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) showed the existence of high interspecific genetic diversity within the genus Johnius forming a monophyletic group. The Johnius species in Taiwan are mainly distributed in a latitude ranging from Xingda (22.4° N) to Hsinchu (24.8° N) with J. taiwanensis, J. distinctus, and J. belangerii representing the most abundant species caught throughout the year. Johnius amblycephalus and J. borneensis were only caught in the summer, while J. trewavasae was rarely caught. In conclusion, we provide a dichotomous key for the genus Johnius in Taiwan waters.

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A new sciaenid fish, Johnius sasakii sp. nov. from the East Malaysian coastal waters of Sabah and Sarawak, Borneo is described herein. Johnius sasakii sp. nov. can be separated from the close congeners, Johnius heterolepis and Johnius carouna by having less gill rakers on the lower limb of the first gill arch (mode number 9 vs. 10 for J. heterolepis; 11 for J. carouna). It can be distinguished from J. heterolepis with the higher modal number of gill rakers on the upper limb of first gill arch (5 vs. 4), shorter anal-fin base length (9% vs. 10% of SL) and first anal-fin ray length (10–12% vs. 12–13% of SL) respectively. Furthermore, J. sasakii sp. nov. can be further differentiated from J. carouna by its shorter second anal-fin spine length 7–10% SL (usually 8–10%) vs. 11–14% SL (usually 11–12%) and slightly deeper body depth 25–29% SL (usually 26–28%) vs. 23–28% SL (usually 24–26%). Meanwhile, J. sasakii sp. nov. can be easily differentiated from J. macrorhynus by a present of molariform teeth on inner rows of jaws and stumpy gill rakers. Johnius (Johnius) sasakii sp. nov. can be clearly distinguished from species of the subgenus J. (Johnieops) by the lack of enlarged outer row teeth on upper jaw. A Kimura 2-parameter genetic distance comparison of 450 bp sequences of mitochondrial 16S rRNA and 488 bp nuclear gene S7 showed that J. sasakii sp. nov. are highly differentiated from J. heterolepis (16S: 10.4%, S7: 5.8%), J. carouna (16S:19.3%, S7:8.4%); and J. macrorhynus (16S: 16.7%, S7: 8.1%) respectively. The study highlights that the genetic approach from mtDNA and nDNA can contribute to the confirmation of taxonomic status of sympatric species in genus Johnius.

Distribution and biology of red snapper Lutjanus campechanus {Rivas, 1966) were investigated in the Red Sea along the coast off Jizan between 15•45-17•47 E and 419 48-42"38 N. The juvenile and immature fish were distributed at a depth range of 6- 27 m (winter 15-21, summer 6-27 m) and mature fish from 27 to 59 m (winter 29-35, summer 27-59 m). Of the 153 specimens, the male to female sex ratio was 1:0.9. Females dominated in the months of January, April and July. Size at first maturity was 440 mm total body length or TL (female) and 500 mm TL (male). Spawning period was July-August. Mean fecundity of seven fish, 3-6 years old, was 169,000 eggs. Annual rings appeared on scales mostly in July. Length was back-calculated by TL= 67.3 + 4.42 scale diameter (R=0.99). The commercial catch was dominated by age group III+ fish. Weight-length and girth-length relations were determined. Mean values of condi­tion "K" and relative condition factor "Kn" of fish in combined sexes are 1.45° 0.13 and 0.98°0.03, respectively. Planktonic crustaceans, fish eggs and fish larvae were preferred by juvenile and immature fish, while larger crustaceans, molluscs and fish were pre­ferred by mature fish as their diet.