Journal of the
Ocean Science Foundation

An open-access free online peer-reviewed Marine Biology Journal, since 2008.

published by the Ocean Science Foundation

 
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click on covers for COVER PAGE images
 

 

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Epigonus indicus, a new species of deepwater cardinalfish (Perciformes: Epigonidae) from the Indian Ocean

K. K. Idrees Babu & K.V. Akhilesh

Abstract

A new species of deepwater cardinalfish, Epigonus indicus, is described from two specimens, 105.2 and 100.2 mm SL, from Kavaratti Island, Lakshadweep (Laccadive) Sea, India. The specimens were collected from storage tanks at a desalination plant where seawater was piped up from 350-400 m depths. Diagnostic features distinguishing the new species from congeners include no pungent opercular spines, no maxillary mustache-like process, no projections on the symphysis of the lower jaw, ribs absent on the last abdominal vertebra, no isolated dorsal-fin spine between the first and second dorsal fins, gill rakers 26-27, pectoral-fin rays 15-17, pectoral-fin length about 22-23% SL, and body depth about 28-29% SL.

 
 
 

CITATION:

Idrees Babu, K.K. & Akhilesh, K.V. (2020) Epigonus indicus, a new species of deepwater cardinalfish (Perciformes: Epigonidae) from the Indian Ocean. Journal of the Ocean Science Foundation, 36, 20-27.

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4243312

publication date: 5 November 2020