Khaironizam Zain
@usm.my
Senior Lecturer (Dr.) at School of Biological Sciences
Universiti Sains Malaysia
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Animal Science and Zoology, Molecular Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Aquatic Science
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Scopus Publications
Mohamad Aqmal-Naser, Intan-Faraha A. Ghani, Muhammad Rasul Abdullah Halim, Muhammad Fahmi-Ahmad, Md. Zain Khaironizam, Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal, Zahar Azuar Zakaria, Mohd Lokman Ilham-Norhakim, and Amirrudin B. Ahmad
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Luqman Hakim Ruzman, Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin, Abdullah Halim Muhammad‐Rasul, Tedjo Sukmono, Md. Zain Khaironizam, and Sébastien Lavoué
Wiley
AbstractThe taxonomy of the freshwater featherback fish genus Chitala (Osteoglossomorpha: Notopteridae) remains unsettled because delimiting and naming Chitala species based solely on morphology led to different hypotheses. In this study, we aim to determine the number and identity of Chitala species present in Peninsular Malaysia by employing an integrative taxonomic approach that combines morphology and two mitochondrial markers: the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and cytochrome b genes. A total of 60 specimens of Chitala were collected throughout Peninsular Malaysia. Initially, all specimens were sorted into three distinct categories based on their body marking patterns. A molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that each of these groups was monophyletic, and an automated species partition method further recognized them as distinct species. These results support the presence of three Chitala species in Peninsular Malaysia, even though a multivariate morphometric analysis failed to fully differentiate each of these three species. Comparison with original species descriptions and genetic data from an additional 70 Chitala specimens from neighbouring regions allowed us to name these species as Chitala lopis, Chitala borneensis, and Chitala ornata. We also showed the presence of two undescribed species in Indonesia.
Muhammad Fahmi-Ahmad, Muhammad Rasul Abdullah Halim, Mohd Lokman Ilham-Norhakim, Muhammad Nur Azam Arshad, Zahar Azuar Zakaria, Intan Faraha A. Ghani, Mohamad Aqmal-Naser, Siti Noratikah Mustafa, Muhammad Abu Bakar Abdul-Latiff, Mohammad Noor Azmai Amal,et al.
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Ayer Hitam Utara State Park Forest (AHUSPF) is an invaluable sanctuary in Johor, the last remaining intact peat swamp forest reserve that hosts many species unique to this distinctive habitat. Some rapid surveys conducted from 2019 to 2022 recorded 40 species of freshwater fish within AHUSPF. Notably, 11 are stenotopic to acid blackwater, and 12 are stenotopic to acid water, most belonging to the family Osphronemidae and Danionidae. The International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List has designated two species, Encheloclarias curtisoma and Betta persephone, as Endangered, while Betta omega is classified as Critically Endangered. The checklist presented herein was first produced from an inventory study in AHUSPF. The preservation of peat swamp forests in the area is under imminent threat due to the alarming rate of land conversion, forest fires, and the recent potential threat from the red-claw crayfish invasion in the aquatic environment. Hence, continuous monitoring is vital for documenting and updating the conservation status of the fish species. These endeavours will facilitate the development of practical conservation approaches to ensure the long-term sustainability of AHUSPF and its associated species.
Sébastien Lavoué, Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin, Abdullah Halim Muhammad-Rasul, Mohd Lokman Ilham-Norhakim, and Khaironizam Md Zain
Pensoft Publishers
The phylogenetic position of the Southeast Asian catfish genus Encheloclarias Myers, 1937 within the family Clariidae is inferred herein using three mitochondrial nucleotide markers: cytochrome b, cytochrome oxidase subunit I, and 16S rRNA genes. We found that Encheloclarias is neither exclusively related to the African taxa having extended neural spines posterior to the dorsal fin (Encheloclarias shares with some of these taxa the presence of an adipose fin, as opposed to absent in all other clariid taxa) nor to the Asian species of the genus Clarias Scopoli, 1777. Encheloclarias is hypothesized to be the sister group of all other clariids, except Horaglanis Menon, 1951. The inferred position of Encheloclarias confirms that the adipose fin in this genus has an evolutionary origin independent to that of the adipose fin found in some African clariids. Encheloclarias is not only ecologically remarkable, being adapted to acidic peat swamps in Southeast Asia, but it is also an ancient lineage sheltering in these habitats. However, the precise timing of the colonization of peat swamps by Encheloclarias remains to be investigated. The phylogenetic position of Encheloclarias further underscores the importance of studying and protecting the remaining peat swamp habitats in Southeast Asia and their distinctive aquatic fauna.
SITI ZAFIRAH GHAZALI, SÉBASTIEN LAVOUÉ, KHAIRONIZAM MD. ZAIN, JAMSARI AMIRUL FIRDAUS JAMALUDDIN, AMIRRUDIN AHMAD, SAHAT RATMUANGKHWANG, and SITI AZIZAH MOHD NOR
Magnolia Press
We compare several populations of the glass-perchlet Parambassis siamensis (Fowler 1937) (Teleostei: Ambassidae) sampled throughout Peninsular Malaysia to determine their degree of differentiation, using both morphological and molecular characters. Our morphological analyses do not show evidence for the presence of more than one species, with the range of morphometric and meristic characters overlapping among populations. Our genetic analysis using partial sequences of the mitochondrial gene coding for the protein cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) reveals the existence of two clades that diverge from each other by a minimum uncorrected p-distance of 2.2%. The first clade comprises of specimens from south-eastern Peninsular Malaysia (Pahang and Endau-Rompin River basins) along with those from Cambodia (lower Mekong River). The second clade comprises of specimens from western Peninsular Malaysia (Selangor, Kurau, Perak, Muda and Kerian River basins) and north-eastern Peninsular Malaysia (Terengganu River basin), along with those from Chao Phraya River basin nearby Bangkok (type locality of P. siamensis). The presence of specimens with numerous melanophores on body sides in each of these two clades indicates that body marking pattern is not a valuable taxonomic character. This finding supports the conclusion that Chanda punctulata Fraser-Brunner 1955 is a junior synonym of P. siamensis. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that all populations of P. siamensis in Peninsular Malaysia (along those from Chao Phraya and lower Mekong basins) are conspecific, comprising two genetically distinct, although close lineages. We further discuss the phenotypic plasticity within P. siamensis in relation to lotic and lentic habitats. Finally, we briefly discuss some implications for biogeography and possible causes explaining the distribution pattern.
Noor Zahidah Ahmad Sobri, Sébastien Lavoué, Fazimah Aziz, Siti Azizah Mohd Nor, Noor Adelyna Mohammed Akib, and Md. Zain Khaironizam
Wiley
The taxonomic status of the Southeast Asian spotted barb, Barbodes binotatus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) has puzzled researchers due to large but inconsistent geographic variation of its body melanin marking pattern. In this study, we appraise the differentiation of Barbodes binotatus and two closely related species, Barbodes rhombeus and saddle barb, Barbodes banksi, in Peninsular Malaysia using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. Our results reveal that the Peninsular Malaysia populations of each of the three species form largely reciprocal monophyletic lineages that differ from each other by a minimum of 2.3% p-genetic distance using COI gene. However, specimens of B. binotatus in Peninsular Malaysia are only distantly related to specimens of B. binotatus in Java (type locality). The monophyly of B. banksi is not refuted although specimens of Peninsular Malaysia are genetically distinct from those of Sarawak (type locality). We discuss alternative hypotheses whether each of these three valid species is a single species or each of the main five genetic lineages revealed in this study represents a distinct species. Preliminary investigations reveal a mito-nuclear discordance at one locality in Peninsular Malaysia where B. binotatus and B. banksi co-occur. Further studies should inform on the extent of reproductive porousness between these two lineages and others. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
NFMAH Alshari, S Lavoué, MAM Sulaiman, MZ Khaironizam, SA Mohd Nor, and F Aziz
Inter-Research Science Center
Little is known about the genetic structure and phylogeography of Asian arowana (Scleropages spp.). Natural variation in body color has led to the informal distinction of chromatic varieties, but previous studies that attempted to genetically characterize these varieties did not comprehensively cover their geographical distribution. In Malaysia, about 10 drainage-restricted populations of Asian arowana are known that are currently classified into 2 species and 3 color varieties. In this study, we used 3 molecular markers to test 2 hypotheses explaining the relationships among 9 of these populations. The first hypothesis postulates that each color variety forms a monophyletic group, whereas the second hypothesis assumes that Pleistocene paleodrainages shaped the distribution of these populations. We found that the overall genetic variability is low within Asian arowana and that the green variety is non-monophyletic, with other varieties nested within. Instead, the populations of Malaysia belong to 3 genetic lineages that are allopatrically distributed. The ages and distribution of 2 of these lineages are consistent with past connections through paleodrainages, whereas the last lineage is restricted to Central Sarawak. Overall, our results reject the first hypothesis, demonstrating that the geographic origin of specimens is a better phylogenetic indicator than their body color. This study highlights the importance of Malaysia in the conservation of Asian arowana, because it is the only country in which populations of all 3 main genetic lineages occur.
Sébastien Lavoué, Siti Zafirah Ghazali, Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin, Siti Azizah Mohd Nor, and Khaironizam Md. Zain
Pensoft Publishers
The fish genus Notopterus Lacepède, 1800 (Notopteridae) currently includes only one species, the Asian bronze featherback Notopterus notopterus (Pallas, 1769). This common freshwater species is widely distributed in the Oriental region, from the Indus basin in the west, the Mekong basin in the east and Java Island in the south. To examine the phylogeographic structure of N. notopterus across its range, we analysed 74 publicly available cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences, 72 of them determined from known-origin specimens, along with four newly-determined sequences from Peninsular Malaysian specimens. We found that N. notopterus is a complex of two allopatric species that diverge from each other by 7.5% mean p-distance. The first species is endemic to South Asia (from Indus basin to Ganga-Brahmaputra system), whereas the distribution of the second species is restricted to Southeast Asia. The exact limit between the distributions of these two species is not known, but it should fall somewhere between the Ganga-Brahmaputra and Salween basins, a region already identified as a major faunal boundary in the Oriental region. The name N. notopterus is retained for the Southeast Asian species, while the name Notopterus synurus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) should be applied to the South Asian species. A comparative morphological study is needed to reveal the degree of morphological differentiation between the two species.
Jamsari Amirul Firdaus Jamaluddin, Nam So, Bui Minh Tam, Amirrudin Ahmad, Chaiwut Grudpan, Lawrence M. Page, Md. Zain Khaironizam, and Siti Azizah Mohd Nor
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
The complex climatic and geological history of Southeast Asia has been hypothesised to determine the most important aspects of the current phylogeographical structure and distribution of living organisms throughout the region. To test existing hypotheses, the genetic structure of the tire track eel, Mastacembelus favus, was investigated using 823 bp of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b from 469 individuals from 51 localities encompassing its native range. The results classified all haplotypes into two major lineages, Lineage 1, which was further divided into Lineages 1a (lower Mekong, eastern Gulf of Thailand and Malay—Thai Peninsula), 1b (Banpakong River), 1c (Chao Phraya, Gulf of Thailand and Malay—Thai Peninsula) and 1d (Khlang Yai River), and Lineage 2, the upper reaches of the lower Mekong and the middle Mekong. Strong genetic discontinuities dated approximately 5 MYA were discovered in the Mekong with limited geographical overlap, suggesting a historically dissected drainage between two sections and species colonisation via different routes. The widespread Lineage 1 showed a strong signature of population expansion during the Pleistocene climate oscillation. Haplotype characteristics in the Malay—Thai Peninsula are hypothesised to result from postglacial dispersal from the Mekong and Chao Phraya through an extended Pleistocene drainage network.
CASEY KEAT CHUAN NG, TEOW YEONG LIM, AMIRRUDIN B. AHMAD, and MD ZAIN KHAIRONIZAM
Magnolia Press
This study investigates the published literature and incorporates our field data from 1997 to September 2018 to generate an inventory report of primary freshwater fishes for Perak State in Malaysia. We critically examined and enumerated 186 species from 2 classes, 16 orders, 43 families and 114 genera in 57 localities. A total of 173 fish species (91.4%) are native to Perak and 17 species (8.6%) are non-native. The provisional checklist presented herein is conservative and excludes doubtful inventory records that lack synthesis and traceability. We encountered seven taxonomic discrepancies and we also could not confidently identify eight species. These are explicitly discussed to inform future workers.
Mohd Ilman Che Abdullah and Khaironizam Md Zain
Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM Press)
This study reports the length-weight relationships (LWR), body condition factor (Kn) and growth parameters of Periophthalmus chrysospilos in Bayan Bay of Penang, Malaysia. The values of exponent b for all categories of fish were higher than 3 indicating a positive allometric growth. The mean condition factor (Kn) for all categories of fish also higher than 1 which reflect the well beings of fish in the study area. The b values of LWR and condition factors for male was similar to female fish, but the b values of LWR and condition factors were significantly higher in rainy months compared to the dry months. The parameters of population dynamic show the asymptotic length (L∞) of 13.20 cm, growth coefficient (K) of 0.68 year-1, growth performance index (O’) of 2.074, total mortality (Z) of 2.47 year-1, and fishing mortality (F) of 0.70 year-1. The exploitation level (E) was 0.28 year-1 indicating of low exploitation and estimation of length at first capture was 7.69 cm. The annual recruitment pattern of P. chrysospilos was recruited in two peaks per year.
Samsudin Nurul Farhana, Zainal Abidin Muchlisin, Thuy Yen Duong, Suwat Tanyaros, Larry M. Page, Yahui Zhao, Eleanor A. S. Adamson, Md. Zain Khaironizam, Mark de Bruyn, and Mohd Nor Siti Azizah
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Members of the freshwater halfbeak genus Dermogenys are hard to identify to the species level, despite several previous attempts to isolate fixed meristic, morphometric and colour pattern differences. This has led to ongoing confusion in scientific literature, records of species occurrence, and entries in museum collections. Here, a DNA barcoding study was conducted on the genus to gain further understanding of its taxonomic status across the Southeast Asian region. Fish were collected from 33 localities, spanning freshwater and brackish habitats in Malaysia, Western Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. In total, 290 samples of Dermogenys spp. were amplified for a 651 base pair fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene. Analysis was able to successfully differentiate the three species: D. collettei, D. siamensis, D. sumatrana; reveal the presence of a new putative species, Dermogenys sp., that was sampled in sympatry with D. collettei at three locations; as well as uncovering two genetic lineages of a fifth species, D. bispina, that display non-overlapping geographical distributions in drainages of northern Borneo; Kudat and Sandakan. This study expands the barcode library for Zenarchopteridae, demonstrates the efficacy of DNA barcoding techniques for differentiating Dermogenys species, and the potential thereof in species discovery.
ABDULLAH HALIM MUHAMMAD-RASUL, ROSLI RAMLI, VAN LUN LOW, AMIRRUDIN AHMAD, CHAIWUT GRUDPAN, SONTAYA KOOLKALYA, and MD. ZAIN KHAIRONIZAM
Magnolia Press
Up to three nominal species of the cyprinid fish genus Poropuntius (i.e. P. deauratus [Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes 1842], P. normani [Smith 1931], and P. smedleyi [de Beaufort 1933]) have been reported to occur in Peninsular Malaysian freshwater ecosystems. However, low morphological differentiation among species of Poropuntius causes confusion and it is still unknown how many valid species of Poropuntius occur in this region. The goal of this study is to review the taxonomic status of Poropuntius in Peninsular Malaysia by using morphological and molecular characters. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on a morphometric dataset including 281 specimens of Poropuntius from Peninsular Malaysia and P. normani from Thailand (type locality) failed to identify non-overlapping clusters within sampled specimens. A phylogenetic tree based on cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) showed intraspecific levels of genetic differentiation within Poropuntius of Peninsular Malaysia and the specimens of P. normani from Thailand form a monophyletic group. Our results strongly support the presence of only one species of Poropuntius in Peninsular Malaysia, P. normani. We demonstrate that P. smedleyi described from Johor, southern Peninsular Malaysia, is a junior synonym of P. normani. The previous reports of the presence of P. deauratus in Peninsular Malaysia are doubtful because this species was described from Vietnam where, in all evidence, it is endemic.
N. Zolkhiflee, K. M. Zain, M. Y. Hossain, and K. Yahya
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi
Length-weight relationship and relative condition factor (Kn) of greenback mullet Liza subviridis (Valenciennes, 1836) were estimated from 2286 samples (635 males and 1651 females) collected from the Pinang River Estuary, Balik Pulau, Penang from March 2013 to February 2014. The length-weight relationship and growth pattern were: W = 0.0117 L2.9989 (isometric) for pooled samples (male and female together), W = 0.0157 L2.8787 (negative allometric) for males and W = 0.0109 L3.0284 (isometric) for females. Independent t-test showed that female b value was higher than that of the males (p<0.05) with no significant difference between the wet and dry seasons (independent t-test, p>0.05). The mean Kn of L. subviridis was 1.01±0.13; however, no significant difference was detected between wet and dry seasons and between male and female samples (independent t-test, p>0.05).
M. Z. KHAIRONIZAM, M. AKARIA-ISMAIL, and JONATHAN W. ARMBRUSTER
Magnolia Press
Meristic, morphometric and distributional patterns of cyprinid fishes of the genus Neolissochilus found in Peninsular Malaysia are presented. Based on the current concept of Neolissochilus, only two species are present: N. soroides and N. hendersoni. Neolissochilus hendersoni differs from N. soroides by having lower scale and gill raker counts. Neolissochilus soroides has three mouth types (normal with a rounded snout, snout with a truncate edge, and lobe with a comparatively thick lower lip). A PCA of log-transformed measurements did not reveal significant differences between N. hendersoni and N. soroides, or between any of the morphotypes of N. soroides; however, a CVA of log-transformed measurements successfully classified 87.1% of all specimens. Removing body size by running a CVA on all of the principal components except PC1 (which was correlated with length) only slightly decreased the successful classification rate to 86.1%. Differences in morphometrics were as great between the three morphotypes of N. soroides as between any of the morphotypes and N. hendersoni suggesting that the morphotypes should be examined in greater detail with genetic tools. The PCA of morphometrics revealed separate clouds for N. hendersoni and N. soroides, but no differences between the N. soroides morphotypes. This study revealed that N. hendersoni is recorded for the first time in the mainland area of Peninsular Malaysia. Other nominal species of Neolissochilus reported to occur in the river systems of Peninsular Malaysia are discussed. Lissochilus tweediei Herre in Herre & Myers 1937 and Tor soro Bishop 1973 are synonyms of Neolissochilus soroides.
Zakeyuddin Mohd. Shafiq, Md. Shah Amir Shah Ruddin, Hazrin Hashim Zarul, Mohammad Mohd Syaiful, Md. Zain Khaironizam, Puteh Khaled, and Yusoff Hamzah
Pensoft Publishers
The fish fauna was surveyed at Bukit Merah Reservoir of Perak (one of the oldest reservoir in Peninsular Malaysia) and its catchment areas. A total of 47 species from 19 families were recorded: 38 fish species were recorded from eight sampling stations located in selected tributaries (lotic zone), while another 25 fish species were recorded in the reservoir itself (lentic zone). Based on a combination of previously published checklists and the present survey, a total of 76 fish species were recorded at Bukit Merah Reservoir. Out of these species, 25 fish species from this survey were new records. Most of the new records were found in the catchment area of the river basin. The presence of two alien species, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus , should be noted as these species could affect the population of native species.