Muhammad Moazzam Khan

Beaked whales (Ziphiidae) are rarely reported in the Arabian Sea. Four new cases (five individuals) were documented in deep waters offshore Pakistan through a pilot programme in 2015-2018 where trained fishers video-recorded net entanglements in the pelagic tuna drift gillnet fishery. Videos were analysed frame-by-frame. The large body size (est. 5-6m) of one specimen, its moderately bulbous melon, long tubular rostrum and a large falcate dolphin-like dorsal fin, indicated Longman’s beaked whale Indopacetus pacificus. It represents the first record for Pakistan (EEZ), and with a stranding at Gujarat, India, a second for the northern Arabian Sea. The other 4 ziphiids were significantly smaller (est. 3– 4.5m), with a decidedly non-bulbous melon, variable short to moderately short rostra, falcate to subtriangular dorsal fin and a nondescript greyish colouration, identified as Mesoplodon spp. Video quality was poor but none of the specimens showed tusks, arched mandible lines or noticea...

in less than 150 words) Malan-Gwader Complex located along the Balochistan coast is significantly important as it cover two Ramsar sites i.e. Ormara Turtle Beaches and Astola (Haft Talar) Island. A large lagoon is also a part of the Complex. The area is known for rocky headland located at Malan, Ormara, Pasni and Gwader whereas largest island of Pakistan is also located within the Complex. Because of uniformity of the diversity of the area this complex stretching over an area of about 8,750 sq. km is constituted. This complex is specifically known for presence of population of a number of cetaceans species including dolphins and whales. Arabian humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae indica), blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) and Bryde's whale (Balaenoptera brydei) are regularly recorded from the Complex. Although the importance of the area has two important Ramsar sites but it international recognition as an EBSA will ensure conservation of the biodiversity of the Malan-Gwader...

Four species of brachyuran crabs are recorded from Pakistan for the first time. The pinnotherid Indopinnixa sipunculana Manning and Morton, 1987, represents the first record of Pinnotherelinae from the Indian Ocean. Quadrella reticulata Alcock, 1898 (Trapeziidae) is recorded from Pakistan for the first time The euryplacid Eucrate indica Castro and Ng, 2010, is formally recorded from Pakistan for the first time, with earlier records probably confused with E. alcocki Ng and Davie 2002 or E. crenata Alcock, 1900. The xanthid Leptodius gracilis (Dana,1852) is also a new record, being the second species of the genus reported from Pakistan.

Practical biodiversity conservation relies on delineation of meaningful units, particularly with respect to global conventions and regulatory frameworks. Species delimitation methods have been revolutionised with the advent of next-generation sequencing approaches, allowing diversity within species radiations to be assessed with genome-wide data. Manta and devil rays (Mobula spp.) are threatened globally primarily from targeted and bycatch fishing pressure, resulting in recent protective measures under several global conventions and frameworks. However, a collective lack of representative global samples, ongoing taxonomic ambiguity, and ineffectual traceability measures combine to constrain the development and implementation of a coherent and enforceable conservation strategy for these species. Here we generate genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data from a globally and taxonomically comprehensive set of mobulid tissue samples, producing the most extensive phylogeny fo...

ABSTRACT Two rare species of xanthid crab (Brachyura: Xanthidae) are reported for the first time in the territorial waters of Pakistan. Odhnea echinus and Paraxanthodes cumatodes were collected from Sonmiani Bay, on the coast of Pakistan. These species are known from only a few specimens and localities globally. The male gonopods are figured for the first time for these two species, and updates on their taxonomy are also provided.

Tuna gillnet fishery of Pakistan employs more than 500 fishing
boats that operate in offshore waters. In addition to tuna,
gillnet also catches large quantities of by-catch fish species
including billfishes, pelagic sharks, dolphin fishes as well as
marine turtles and cetaceans, which are protected species. High
by-catch of these non-target animals affects their population in
the area. The paper provides information on by-catch and
suggests measures that can be adopted as alternate fishing
methods to minimize mortality of endangered and threatened
cetaceans and turtles.