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Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics

The giant freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis (Bleeker, 1852) (family Dasyatidae) is an endemic species in the Southeast Asian region, but comprehensive records of the distribution of this species within local river systems and their biology are still lacking. We reviewed current information for...

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Main Authors: Then, Amy Yee-Hui, Lim, Kean Chong, Loh, Kar Hoe
Format: Article
Published: National University of Singapore 2022
Subjects:
GC Oceanography
GE Environmental Sciences
Online Access:http://eprints.um.edu.my/41289/
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spelling my.um.eprints.412892023-09-18T03:05:12Z http://eprints.um.edu.my/41289/ Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics Then, Amy Yee-Hui Lim, Kean Chong Loh, Kar Hoe GC Oceanography GE Environmental Sciences The giant freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis (Bleeker, 1852) (family Dasyatidae) is an endemic species in the Southeast Asian region, but comprehensive records of the distribution of this species within local river systems and their biology are still lacking. We reviewed current information for this species based on media reports, published literature as well as field observations. Two direct encounters of this species in Mukah, Sarawak, and in Sandakan, Sabah, confirmed recent occurrences of this species in Malaysian Borneo with the finding of an adult female with four pups. Public wildlife sighting information also provided additional 29 novel sightings of this species in Malaysia, out of which four were first records at the locations of Kukup and Sungai Sembrong in Johor, Pulau Bruit in Sarawak, and Tanjung Batu Laut in Sabah. These records suggested relatively high capture rates by trawlers in coastal areas and that the animals are closely associated with clean river systems. Genetic analysis showed paraphyly in U. polylepis with the formation of two major clades; one from the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysian Borneo, and the other from the Andaman Sea region and Indonesia. Threats to U. polylepis due to their own biological uniqueness, rarity of their occurrence, increasing level of river pollution, and potentially isolated populations highlight the urgent need for formal protection of the species. National University of Singapore 2022 Article PeerReviewed Then, Amy Yee-Hui and Lim, Kean Chong and Loh, Kar Hoe (2022) Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 70. pp. 534-549. ISSN 0217-2445, DOI https://doi.org/10.26107/RBZ-2022-0030 <https://doi.org/10.26107/RBZ-2022-0030>. 10.26107/RBZ-2022-0030
institution Universiti Malaya
building UM Library
collection Institutional Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
content_provider Universiti Malaya
content_source UM Research Repository
url_provider http://eprints.um.edu.my/
topic GC Oceanography
GE Environmental Sciences
spellingShingle GC Oceanography
GE Environmental Sciences
Then, Amy Yee-Hui
Lim, Kean Chong
Loh, Kar Hoe
Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
description The giant freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis (Bleeker, 1852) (family Dasyatidae) is an endemic species in the Southeast Asian region, but comprehensive records of the distribution of this species within local river systems and their biology are still lacking. We reviewed current information for this species based on media reports, published literature as well as field observations. Two direct encounters of this species in Mukah, Sarawak, and in Sandakan, Sabah, confirmed recent occurrences of this species in Malaysian Borneo with the finding of an adult female with four pups. Public wildlife sighting information also provided additional 29 novel sightings of this species in Malaysia, out of which four were first records at the locations of Kukup and Sungai Sembrong in Johor, Pulau Bruit in Sarawak, and Tanjung Batu Laut in Sabah. These records suggested relatively high capture rates by trawlers in coastal areas and that the animals are closely associated with clean river systems. Genetic analysis showed paraphyly in U. polylepis with the formation of two major clades; one from the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysian Borneo, and the other from the Andaman Sea region and Indonesia. Threats to U. polylepis due to their own biological uniqueness, rarity of their occurrence, increasing level of river pollution, and potentially isolated populations highlight the urgent need for formal protection of the species.
format Article
author Then, Amy Yee-Hui
Lim, Kean Chong
Loh, Kar Hoe
author_facet Then, Amy Yee-Hui
Lim, Kean Chong
Loh, Kar Hoe
author_sort Then, Amy Yee-Hui
title Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
title_short Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
title_full Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
title_fullStr Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
title_full_unstemmed Updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray Urogymnus polylepis in Malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
title_sort updated distribution of the endangered freshwater stingray urogymnus polylepis in malaysia, with notes on biology and genetics
publisher National University of Singapore
publishDate 2022
url http://eprints.um.edu.my/41289/
_version_ 1778161651763118080
score 13.211869

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