On the Rasbora (s. str.) species group

The remaining species within Rasbora s. str. for which their phylogenetic were not analyses by Liao et al. (2010 [see Liao, T. Y., Kullander, S. O. & Fang, F. (2010). Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rasbora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zoologica Scripta 39, 155–176] for details) phylogenetic positions may change when such studies are conducted. At least 17 species of rasborins fishes present in Peninsular Malaysia.

The proposed grouping of the remaining species that not examined in the study, are as follows:

Rasbora semilineata species group: R. semilineata, R. borapetensis, R. rubrodorsalis.

Rasbora trifasciata species group: R. trifasciata, R. amplistriga, R. bankanensis, R. dies, R. ennealepis, R. hubbsi, R. johannae, R. meinkeni, R. paucisqualis, R. rutteni, R. sarawankensis, R. taytayensis, R. tobana, R. tuberculata.

Rasbora daniconius species group: R. daniconius, R. caverii, R. kobonensis, R. labiosa, R. ornata, R. wilpita.

Rasbora einthovenii species group: R. einthovenii, R. cephalotaenia, R. elegans, R. jacobsoni, R. kalochroma, R. kottelati, R. nematotaenia, R. patrickyapi, R. tubbi.

Rasbora argyrotaenia species group: R. argyrotaenia, R. aprotaenia, R. aurotaenia, R. baliensis, R. borneensis, R. bunguranensis, R. dusonensis, R. evereti, R. hobelmani, R. hossi, R. lateristriata, R. laticlavia, R. leptosoma, R. philippina, R. septentrionalis, R. spilotaenia, R. steineri, R. tawarensis, R. tornieri, R. volzii.

Rasbora sumatrana species group: *R. sumatrana, R. atridorsalis, R. calliura, R. caudimaculata, R. dorsinotata, R. notura, R. paviana, R. rasbora, R. subtilis, R. trilineata, *R. vulgaris.

Not classified: R. beauforti, R. chrysotaenia, R. gerlachi, R. kalbarensis, R. reticulata, R. vulcanus, R. zanzibarensis.

Note. ‘bold’ indicates species presence in Peninsular Malaysia. ‘*’ denotes that the presence of these species in Peninsular Malaysia are still in dispute.

Interestingly, R. caudimaculata (greater scissortail) and R. trilineata (scissortail) with a distinct color pattern on caudal fin, slender caudal peduncle are grouped together under R. sumatrana species group! I am sure someone will place them in its own group or perhaps in a new genus, someday!! Same goes to some species within R. argyrotaenia species group, among other R. bunguranensis (endemic to Natuna Is., Indonesia) which superficially similar to R. notura (endemic to Peninsular Malaysia). It's soooooo interesting!!!

(Revision) On the small to medium size fish of the genus Rasbora

Very recently, a study of the phylogeny of the cyprinid genus Rasbora by researchers from the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm has resulted in the establishement of four new genera namely Brevibora, Kottelatia, Rasbosoma dan Trigonostigma to accomodate some fishes of the genus Rasbora.

I've yet to see and read the paper [For more information, see the paper: Liao, T-Y, SO Kullander & F Fang (2010) Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Rasbora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Zoologica Scripta 39, pp. 155–176.] but here is some update that related to fishes found in Peninsular Malaysia (at least!)

Brevibora
(Latin brevis=short and -bora from Rasbora)
This genus consists of only one species, B. dorsiocellata which found in Terengganu, P. Malaysia.

Kottelatia
Named after Swiss ichthyologist Dr. Maurice Kottelat
This genus includes only a single species (K. brittani) but not reported in P. Malaysia.

Rasbosoma
Derived rom Rasbora and the Greek soma=body)
This genus includes only one species i.e. R. spilocerca found in Thailand.

Trigonopoma
(Greek trigonos=triangle and poma=lid)
This genus has two species: T. gracile (formerly Rasbora gracilis) and T. pauciperforatum (formerly Rasbora pauciperforata). Both species found in peat and acid water swamps in P. Malaysia.

Fish Diversity of Ulu Tungud, Meliau Range, Sandakan, Sabah

Additional surveys on ichthyofauna of Ansuan River, Meliau River, Tungud River and several unnamed streams within the vicinity of Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Meliau were carried out from 14th December to 21st December 2004. Nineteen species belonging to five families were recorded. The fish fauna was dominated by Cyprinidae (47%) followed by Balitoridae (36%) and other families. Rasbora cf. sumatrana (Cyprinidae) and Nemacheilus olivaceus (Balitoridae) when present were the most abundant species. Several specimens of the fishes from the genus Gastromyzon and Glaniopsis were yet to be identified to the species level . The surveyed areas were relatively disturbed by human activities particularly logging and plantations but most of the streams and rivers visited during the survey having relatively clear water and good visibility. Voucher specimens were currently deposited at the Ichthyological Collections at General Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT).

We wish to thank, Mr. Tay Soon Poh and Alladin bin Mujnabi of TSH Resources Berhad for providing the facilities and accommodation during the field trip, the Sabah Forestry Department and their staffs especially Mr. Postar and Mr. Masuari for their field assistances and support during fish sampling. This study was partly funded by Global Environmental Center and UMT short term grant (Vot 54142) to the author.

General description of the study sites visited at the recent ichthyofauna survey.

Site 1. 15-Dec-04. Sg. Meliau - upstream of TSH nursery - a medium size stream about 15-25m wide; rocky bottom, fast flowing water, clear and cold water

Site 2. 15-Dec-04. Sg. Meliau - downstream at IJM plantation - downstream of concrete crossing of Sg. Meliau; medium size stream about 25m wide; fast flowing water, slightly sedimented, gravel and sandy bottom

Site 3. 16-Dec-04. Sg. Tungud - upstream of TSH basecamp - small creek about 3-5m wide, pebbles and rocky bottom; fast torrential headwater stream, clear and cold water

Site 4. 16-Dec-04. Sg. Tungud - at main tributary near TSH basecamp - a medium size stream about 15-25m wide; rocky bottom, fast flowing water, clear and cold water

Site 5. 17-Dec-04. unnamed stream within TSH Acacia plantation - a small stream about 3-5m wide; soft gravel and coarse sandy bottom; slow moving, clear and cold water under riparian shades

Site 6. 17-Dec-04. unnamed stream within IJM oil palm plantation - a small stream about 3-5m wide; mainly rocky and coarse sandy bottom; slow moving, clear and cold water partly exposed to direct sunlight

Site 7. 17-Dec-04. Sg. Ansuan - at middle reach of a large size stream about 25-30m wide; rocky bottom downstream, gravel and pebbles upstream, fast flowing water, clear and cold water


Checklist of fish species collected on the recent survey of Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Meliau, Sabah

Anguillidae
1. Anguilla malgumora Kaup 1856

Cyprinidae
2. Barbodes balleroides (Valenciennes 1842)
3. Garra borneensis (Vaillant 1902)
4. Hampala sabanus Inger & Chin 1962
5. Lobocheilos bo (Popta 1904)
6. Nematabramis everetti Boulenger 1894
7. Osteochilus waandersii (Bleeker 1852)
8. Rasbora cf. sumatrana (Bleeker 1852)
9. Schismatorhynchus holorhynchos Seibert & Tjakrawidjaja 1998
10. Tor tambra (Valenciennes, in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1842)

Balitoridae
11. Gastromyzon cf. danumensis Chin & Inger 1989
12. Gastromyzon sp. undet. 1
13. Gastromyzon sp. undet. 2
14. Glaniopsis sp. undet. 1
15. Glaniopsis sp. undet. 2
16. Homaloptera stephensoni Hora 1932
17. Nemacheilus olivaceus* Boulenger 1894

Sisoridae
18. Glyptothorax cf. major (Boulenger 1894)

Osphronemidae
19. Betta cf. unimaculata Chin 1990

* was observed by author

Fish Diversity of Ulu Tungud, Meliau Range, Sandakan, Sabah

Additional surveys on ichthyofauna of Ansuan River, Meliau River, Tungud River and several unnamed streams within the vicinity of Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Meliau were carried out from 14th December to 21st December 2004. Nineteen species belonging to five families were recorded. The fish fauna was dominated by Cyprinidae (47%) followed by Balitoridae (36%) and other families. Rasbora cf. sumatrana (Cyprinidae) and Nemacheilus olivaceus (Balitoridae) when present were the most abundant species. Several specimens of the fishes from the genus Gastromyzon and Glaniopsis were yet to be identified to the species level . The surveyed areas were relatively disturbed by human activities particularly logging and plantations but most of the streams and rivers visited during the survey having relatively clear water and good visibility. Voucher specimens were currently deposited at the Ichthyological Collections at General Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT).

We wish to thank, Mr. Tay Soon Poh and Alladin bin Mujnabi of TSH Resources Berhad for providing the facilities and accommodation during the field trip, the Sabah Forestry Department and their staffs especially Mr. Postar and Mr. Masuari for their field assistances and support during fish sampling. This study was partly funded by Global Environmental Center and UMT short term grant (Vot 54142) to the author.

General description of the study sites visited at the recent ichthyofauna survey.

Site 1. 15-Dec-04. Sg. Meliau - upstream of TSH nursery - a medium size stream about 15-25m wide; rocky bottom, fast flowing water, clear and cold water

Site 2. 15-Dec-04. Sg. Meliau - downstream at IJM plantation - downstream of concrete crossing of Sg. Meliau; medium size stream about 25m wide; fast flowing water, slightly sedimented, gravel and sandy bottom

Site 3. 16-Dec-04. Sg. Tungud - upstream of TSH basecamp - small creek about 3-5m wide, pebbles and rocky bottom; fast torrential headwater stream, clear and cold water

Site 4. 16-Dec-04. Sg. Tungud - at main tributary near TSH basecamp - a medium size stream about 15-25m wide; rocky bottom, fast flowing water, clear and cold water

Site 5. 17-Dec-04. unnamed stream within TSH Acacia plantation - a small stream about 3-5m wide; soft gravel and coarse sandy bottom; slow moving, clear and cold water under riparian shades

Site 6. 17-Dec-04. unnamed stream within IJM oil palm plantation - a small stream about 3-5m wide; mainly rocky and coarse sandy bottom; slow moving, clear and cold water partly exposed to direct sunlight

Site 7. 17-Dec-04. Sg. Ansuan - at middle reach of a large size stream about 25-30m wide; rocky bottom downstream, gravel and pebbles upstream, fast flowing water, clear and cold water


Checklist of fish species collected on the recent survey of Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, Meliau, Sabah

Anguillidae
1. Anguilla malgumora Kaup 1856

Cyprinidae
2. Barbodes balleroides (Valenciennes 1842)
3. Garra borneensis (Vaillant 1902)
4. Hampala sabanus Inger & Chin 1962
5. Lobocheilos bo (Popta 1904)
6. Nematabramis everetti Boulenger 1894
7. Osteochilus waandersii (Bleeker 1852)
8. Rasbora cf. sumatrana (Bleeker 1852)
9. Schismatorhynchus holorhynchos Seibert & Tjakrawidjaja 1998
10. Tor tambra (Valenciennes, in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1842)

Balitoridae
11. Gastromyzon cf. danumensis Chin & Inger 1989
12. Gastromyzon sp. undet. 1
13. Gastromyzon sp. undet. 2
14. Glaniopsis sp. undet. 1
15. Glaniopsis sp. undet. 2
16. Homaloptera stephensoni Hora 1932
17. Nemacheilus olivaceus* Boulenger 1894

Sisoridae
18. Glyptothorax cf. major (Boulenger 1894)

Osphronemidae
19. Betta cf. unimaculata Chin 1990

* was observed by author

Rank/abundance plot

Life is wonderful.

It start with a 'simple' thing..

It grown and become a 'complex' creature...

Similar to the graph,

When first I plot it, the graph is so simple..

I let it 'grow', and I got a 'complex' figure...

p.s. if you have anything to say, i would love to hear/read..

Gone but never forgotten..

While browsing the web, I stumble upon this beautifully written poem.. And while browsing My Picture folder, I found this photograph.

I like to dedicate the poem written by Cecilia M. Kocher to the late Prof. Dr. Kamaruddin Mat-Salleh.

(l-r: Prof. KMS, Jarina, Sam Cheong and me)

Langkawi 2003

Al-Fatihah.

In Memory Poem
A person may be dead and buried, but if we are lucky we will never be forgotten.

Gone But Not Forgotten

The years we've shared have been full of joy.

The memories we've made will go on and on.

I haven't stopped crying since you went away,

and I've asked God time and time why couldn't you stay.

You lit up my life, my hopes, and my dreams.

You've opened my eyes to see what it all means.

So now that you're gone how can I forget;

Because you were the greatest out of all I have met.

Source: Gone But Not Forgotten, In Memory Poems

(http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/death/poetry)
© Cecilia M. Kocher

I'm back..

Yes!! I'm back but on this page only laa.. The others still remain 'hibernating'..
For 2010, I expect many thins to happen..
I hope to accomplish everything or at least a few things I supposed to accomplish lah..
Among others, get my final certificate!
For now, things moving so well.. But most of the time, the problem is ME!
For 2010, I hope I'm healthy; at least not in 'bad' shape lah.. So tired..
Like the other half always said, "Rabbit run so fast, then got tired or get sick!" Aihhh..
Anyway, have to continue running.. Must reach the finish line!
Hopefully, by June 2010!

All the best..
Insya'Allah