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New geographical records of 15 reef fish species from Lakshadweep, India

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2024

Alvin Anto Open the ORCID record for Alvin Anto [Opens in a new window] ,
Sandra Babu Open the ORCID record for Sandra Babu [Opens in a new window] ,
Miriam Paul Sreeram ,
Sreenath K. Ramanathan Open the ORCID record for Sreenath K. Ramanathan [Opens in a new window]  and
Ronald Fricke
Alvin Anto
Affiliation:
Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682022, KL, India ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682018, KL, India
Sandra Babu
Affiliation:
Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682022, KL, India ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682018, KL, India
Miriam Paul Sreeram
Affiliation:
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682018, KL, India
Sreenath K. Ramanathan*
Affiliation:
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi 682018, KL, India
Ronald Fricke
Affiliation:
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany
*
Corresponding author: Sreenath K. Ramanathan; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

In the present study, 15 new records from Kavaratti Atoll are added to the ichthyofaunal diversity of the Lakshadweep Archipelago and six to the Indian fish fauna based on underwater photographs and videos. Fishes were recorded from both lagoon and forereef areas off Kavaratti. The new records include Cirripectes auritus (Blackflap blenny), Cirripectes polyzona (Barred blenny), Ecsenius bicolor (Bicolor blenny), Glyptoparus delicatulus (Delicate blenny), Amblyeleotris wheeleri (Gorgeous prawn-goby), Eviota punyit (Punyit dwarfgoby), Eviota cf. teresae (Viridescent dwarfgoby), Cirrhitichthys falco (Dwarf hawkfish), Halichoeres leucoxanthus (Canarytop wrasse), Pseudocheilinus evanidus (Disappearing wrasse), Coris latifasciata (Broad banded wrasse), Pomacentrus xanthocercus (Yellowtail damsel), Plectroglyphidodon luteobrunneus (Indian gregory), Pomacentrus indicus (Indian damsel) and Synodus dermatogenys (Sand lizardfish). Six species, G. delicatulus, E. cf. teresae, E. punyit, P. xanthocercus, P. evanidus and C. latifasciata represent new records for Indian waters. The genus Amblyeleotris is recorded for the first time from Lakshadweep.

Keywords

Arabian Seacoral atollsfish faunal diversityKavaratti AtollLaccadive Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 104 , 2024 , e16
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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