First Record of the Diamondback Squid Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, 1857 (Cephalopoda: Thysanoteuthidae) in the East Malaysian Coastal Waters
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Abstract
This study documents the first confirmed record of the diamondback squid, Thysanoteuthis rhombus Troschel, 1857, along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Two individuals, a subadult male and a female, were collected from a local fish market in Terengganu. Although T. rhombus is typically associated with warm tropical and subtropical offshore waters, its occurrence in Malaysian coastal waters had not been previously reported. Morphological identification was conducted and further validated through molecular analysis using mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequencing. Phylogenetic comparisons revealed that the specimens clustered within the same clade as populations from the Pacific region, including Japan, the Philippines, and Vietnam. This finding significantly extends the known distribution range of T. rhombus and contributes new data to the cephalopod biodiversity of Malaysian waters. The presence of this oceanic squid species in local fish markets suggests possible changes in distribution patterns, which may be influenced by oceanographic or climatic factors. Given the ecological role and potential fishery value of T. rhombus, continued monitoring and further studies are warranted to assess its population status, habitat preferences, and implications for local fisheries. This record provides a valuable baseline for future taxonomic, ecological, and conservation research in the Southeast Asian marine region.
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