<![CDATA[The phenomenon of marine mammal stranding is a complex conservation issue, with species identification often hindered by degraded carcass conditions. This research aimed to identify the species of a stranded marine mammal found in the waters of Aceh Jaya, Indonesia, using both morphological and molecular approaches. Fieldwork was conducted from August 2023 to January 2024 at Ketapang Beach, Krueng Sabee, Aceh Jaya. Initial morphological identification, based on observed physical characteristics and existing literature, showed consistency with Kogia breviceps. However, severe specimen degradation prevented accurate identification of several key features (gills and body color), highlighting the inherent limitations of morphological methods for degraded carcasses. To overcome these limitations, molecular identification was performed. Tissue samples were subjected to DNA extraction using the DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit, followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of the mitochondrial Control Region (D-loop) gene using L15812/H16498 primers. Agarose gel electrophoresis confirmed successful amplification of a 523 bp target DNA fragment, although a smear indicating degradation was observed. DNA sequencing was subsequently performed and analyzed using MEGA 11 software and the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) algorithm against the NCBI GenBank database. BLAST analysis definitively identified the stranded marine mammal as Kogia breviceps, with a Query Cover of 93-95% and Percent Identity of 98.80-99.32% compared to reference sequences. This study concludes that molecular identification is crucial and accurate for species determination of degraded stranded marine mammals. This research recommends strengthening national stranding response protocols to include molecular sampling and enhancing genetic laboratory capacity to support marine mammal conservation efforts in Indonesia]]>
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