Benthic species, though ecologically important, are vulnerable to genetic loss and population size reduction due to impacts from fishing trawls. An assessment of genetic diversity and population structure is therefore needed to assist in a resource management program. To address this issue, the two-spined yellowtail stargazer (Uranoscopus cognatus) was collected within selected locations in the Indo-West Pacific (IWP). The partial mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and the nuclear DNA recombination activating gene 1 were sequenced. Genetic diversity analyses revealed that the populations were moderately to highly diversified (haplotype diversity, H = 0.490–0.900, nucleotide diversity, π = 0.0010–0.0034) except sampling station (ST) 1 and 14. The low diversity level, however was apparent only in the matrilineal marker (H = 0.118–0.216; π = 0.0004–0.0008), possibly due to stochastic factors or anthropogenic stressors. Population structure analyses revealed a retention of ancestral polymorphism that was likely due to incomplete lineage sorting in U. cognatus, and prolonged vicariance by the Indo-Pacific Barrier has partitioned them into separate stock units. Population segregation was also shown by the phenotypic divergence in allopatric populations, regarding the premaxillary protrusion, which is possibly associated with the mechanism for upper jaw movement in biomechanical feeding approaches. The moderate genetic diversity estimated for each region, in addition to past population expansion events, indicated that U. cognatus within the IWP was still healthy and abundant (except in ST1 and 14), and two stock units were identified to be subjected to a specific resource management program.

Sacura sanguinea n. sp. (Serranidae: Anthiadinae) is described on the basis of two male and one female specimens from the Andaman Sea. The new species is characterized by the following characters: dorsal-fin rays X, 15; pored lateral-line scales 34; gill rakers 8 + 23 = 31; body depth 42.6–44.7% of SL; head length 39.5–41.4% of SL; pectoral-fin length 32.4–33.1% of SL; poorly defined broad yellow band from anterior profile of head to middle of body, the band gradually becoming red around middle of body and ending at caudal-fin base; caudal fin with distinct red spots centrally; and large dark red blotch posteriorly on spinous portion of dorsal fin in females.

We sequenced and assembled four whole mitogenome sequences of the bottom-dwelling fish yellowtail stargazer Uranoscopus cognatus isolated from East Peninsular Malaysia and West Coast of Thailand. The final partitioned nucleotide alignment consists of 14,098 bp and supports the monophyly of the genus Uranoscopus. Contrary to various mitogenome reports, we also made available the raw Illumina sequencing reads that can be further mined for microsatellite markers and repetitive nuclear genes.

A new uranoscopid fish, Ichthyscopus pollicaris sp. nov., is described from East Asia waters around Taiwan and Japan. It can be distinguished from other congeners in having the ventral midline of the belly forming 3 prominent prolonged skin flaps, its posterior nostril oval to circular in shape, its pectoral-fin base lacking distinct blotches, and the uppermost pectoral-fin ray and adjacent interspace membrane with 1 or 2 white spots. The biogeography of I. pollicaris is discussed.

Aim Although the underlying biotic and abiotic factors of phylogeographic patterns is an important topic in biogeography, they remain largely unexplored in marine fishes. We empirically investigated the effects of several biological traits on phylogeographic patterns of selected marine fishes. We predict that overall similarity in these traits correlates with similarity in phylogeographic patterns among species, and that genetic diversity and demographic stability are associated with these traits, as well as the local (paleo)environment. Location Five localities in the South China Sea (SCS). Taxon Thirteen species of coastal marine fishes. Methods Phylogeographic Concordance Factors (PCFs) based on mitochondrial DNA sequences were tested for correlation with similarity based on distribution range, depth of occurrence, habitat preference, salinity tolerance and fecundity among the subset of the focal species. The relationship between phylogeographic patterns and these traits was also qualitatively examined. Bayesian model averaging was used to test the association between these traits and the genetic diversity estimates. Results Pairwise PCFs of five species across all localities were correlated with pairwise biological similarity, with depth and distribution ranges contributing most to the biological similarity. Nucleotide diversity of Indo‐west Pacific species tended to be greater than that of circumtropical species. Populations showing signs of demographic expansions were concentrated in three localities. A novel concordant population break across six focal species and other marine organisms coincided with the dispersal barrier previously suggested by biophysical dispersal modelling. Main conclusions Abiotic factors were dominant in controlling phylogeographic patterns, with possible contributions from biotic factors. Depth and distribution ranges, or other eco‐physiological traits underlying these, might have influenced the phylogeographic patterns of several species, presumably coupled with historical vicariance. The geography of local populations relative to the shallow continental shelf may explain the heterogeneous demography. Historical vicariance and contemporary ocean currents have contributed to the concordant population break.