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A total of 116 finless porpoises,Neophocaena asiaeorientalis, were collected in the Yellow Sea off Korea. About 111 specimens were incidentally caught by stow nets on anchors from March to June 2010, and five were stranded in February 2011. Age was determined by counting dentinal growth layer groups (GLGs) in thin-sectioned teeth, and sexual maturity rating (SMR) was classified by investigating ovaries and testis macroscopically and microscopically. Immature females were ranged 1–4 years old and 92.6–141.2 cm in total body length (TBL), pubertal ones were all 5 years old and 125.4–136.0 cm, and mature ones ranged 5–19 years old and 131.6–155.2 cm. Age at attainment of sexual maturity of females was 4–5 years old. Parturition season estimated based on TBL of eight fetuses was from April to August with a peak in April to May. The first age at parturition was 5 years old. Among 62 males, immature males were 1–4 years old and 87.9–154.6 cm, pubertal ones were 3–5 years old and 121.5–134.5 cm, and mature ones were 4–19 years old and 125.3–229.0 cm. Males reached sexual maturity at 4–5 years old. Testicular mass and the diameters of seminiferous tubules were dramatically increased with SMR and regressed in testis of the individuals stranded in February. It suggested that male finless porpoises have aspermatogenic period between October and February. It is presumed that the breeding season would be May–September with a peak in May–June. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops sp.) commonly inhabit Korean waters, including the coastal waters of Jeju Island. However, their taxonomic position was unclear because of the validity of this genus. The genus Tursiops has recently been determined to comprise two species: the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and the Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus). To confirm the taxonomic position of bottlenose dolphins frequenting the coastal waters of Jeju Island, the external morphology and osteology of specimens from Jeju Island were examined. Photographs of free-swimming individuals were also used for determining external morphological characters. The cranial and meristic measurements fell within the ranges of T. aduncus. Osteological ratios were also consistent with those of T. aduncus. The presence of a prominent ventral spot was observed among some individuals. As a result, the dolphins mainly distributed in the coastal waters of Jeju Island were identified as Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (T. aduncus) in terms of their cranial characters and ventral spotting. We propose a new Korean name, 'Nam-bang-keun-dol-go-rae'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitogenome sequence ofCirriformiacf.tentaculata(Terebellida, Cirratulidae), a species of marine polychaete worm, was determined in this study. This is the first mitogenome reported for genusCirriformiaand family Cirratulidae. This complete mitogenome is 15,495 bp in length, containing 13 protein coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 23 transfer RNAs (tRNAs). The mitogenome ofCirriformiacf.tentaculatahas high A + T content of 59.5% (A, 29.5%; C, 26.9%; G, 13.6%; T, 30.0%). In neighbour-joining (NJ) analysis,Cirriformiacf.tentaculatais clustered with the components of order Terebellida. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The mitogenome sequence of SpongeHalichondria okadai(Kadota, 1922) (Suberitida, Halichondriidae) was determined for the first time in this study. The circular genome is 20,722 bp in length, containing 14 protein coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and 25 transfer RNAs (tRNAs). The nucleotide composition of mitogenome consists of 29.5% A, 14.2% C, 21.5% G, 34.7% T, showing a high content of A + T similar to the other Suberitid sponges. These results will be useful for inferring the phylogenetic relationships among the members of family Halichondriidae within the Suberitids. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]