The brood pouch of seahorses can be divided into four sequential stages based on the characteristics of the altered tissue layers during gestation: the normal stage, the embryo-carrying stage, the embryo-release stage and the repair stage. The brood pouch is composed of a folded inner pseudostratified columnar epithelium and a smooth outer stratified cuboidal epithelium. Three tissue layers between the inner and the outer epithelia are an inner loose connective tissue layer, a middle smooth muscle layer and an outer dense irregular connective tissue layer. In the normal stage, the inner loose connective tissue layer is thick and vascularised with small blood vessels; the muscle layer consists of scattered unorganised muscle fibres. In the embryo-carrying stage, the inner epithelial and inner loose connective tissue layers become distended and highly vascularised with enlarged blood vessels. In the embryo-release stage, the inner loose connective tissue layer is extensively vascularised with very large blood vessels and the smooth muscle fibres invade the outer dense irregular connective tissue layer. Structures altered during gestation gradually resume their normal condition in the repair stage. Extensive vascularisation of the brood pouch during gestation suggests an intricate paternal–embryo relationship implying other significant roles besides protective function of the pouch.

New records of the Japanese seahorse Hippocampus mohnikei from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, along with recently published studies from India and Singapore, have greatly expanded the known range of H. mohnikei within Southeast Asia. These new records reveal novel habitat preferences and threats to H. mohnikei in the region. Although the global conservation status of H. mohnikei is classified as Data Deficient according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, new sightings indicate that this species is found in similar habitats and faces similar threats as other Hippocampus species that are considered Vulnerable.

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Background Spent coffee grounds (SCG), an increasingly abundant waste product with environmental disposal problems, has been used as a dietary supplement for many animals and have the potential to be used as a dietary supplement for black soldier fly (BSF) larvae; however, its effective use is still under scrutiny. To date, no studies have considered the use of SCG after microbial fermentation (fSCG) and its effects on BSF life history. Methods A mixture of fruit and vegetable pulp residue supplemented with one of six different fSCG percentages (0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% by weight) were provided as a diet substrate in order to evaluate the effect of the fSCG quantity on BSF growth, yield, and conversion ability. Results The addition of fSCG to the pulp diet prolonged larval development times, while 100% fSCG affected the larval survival rate and resulted in a male-biased adult sex ratio. The 20–40% fSCG and 40–60% fSCG treatments supported the largest prepupal and mature larval sizes, respectively. The highest waste reduction efficiency and feed conversion rate by BSF larvae was found with 20% fSCG, similar to the control (0% fSCG). Discussion From the short rearing time, high yield, and high bioconversion efficiency, a 20% fSCG supplementation of the mixed pulp was recommended for rearing BSF larvae. These data are valuable for coffee by-product waste management in urban areas.