Ariosoma indicum sp. nov., a new species of congrid eel (Anguilliformes: Congridae: Bathymyrinae) from the Indian waters

Ariosoma indicum sp. nov. is described herein based on 12 specimens [(335–433 mm total length (TL)] collected off the Arabian Sea of southwest coast of India and 7 specimens from Digha Mohana, off the Bay of Bengal of northeast coast of India. The new species is distinguished from congeners in havin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish biology 2022-06, Vol.100 (6), p.1447-1454
Main Authors: Kodeeswaran, Paramasivam, Kathirvelpandian, Ayyathurai, Acharya, Smrutirekha, Mohanty, Swarup Ranjan, Mohapatra, Anil, Ajith Kumar, Thipramalai Thangappan Pillai, Lal, Kuldeep Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anus
Arabian Sea
Ariosoma
Ariosoma gnanadossi
Bathymyrinae
Bay of Bengal
Catadromous species
COI protein
Colour
Congeners
Divergence
Eels
Extremities
Fins
Jaw
Mandible
Marine fishes
Maxilla
Mitochondria
New species
Pigmentation
Pores
systematics
Tapering
Teeth
Vertebrae
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Summary:Ariosoma indicum sp. nov. is described herein based on 12 specimens [(335–433 mm total length (TL)] collected off the Arabian Sea of southwest coast of India and 7 specimens from Digha Mohana, off the Bay of Bengal of northeast coast of India. The new species is distinguished from congeners in having the following combination of the characters: anus positioned anterior to middle of total length, pre‐anal length 40.0%–43.1% of TL; short wedge‐shaped pointed vomerine teeth patch, three or four rows in anterior portion, tapering posteriorly with four uniserial teeth; supraorbital canal with four or five pores; pre‐dorsal vertebrae 9–10; pre‐anal vertebrae 49–53; total vertebrae 141–146; body greenish‐brown in colour; extremities of the lower jaw with minute dark pigmentation patches before the rictus, bicoloured pectoral fin. A. indicum shares few characters with the Indian water species, Ariosoma gnanadossi, but readily differs from the latter in having more pre‐anal vertebrae (49–53 vs. 47 in A. gnanadossi); fewer lateral‐line pores (130–137 vs. 145); shorter tail (54.9%–57.9% TL vs. 60.1% TL); smaller eye (15.1%–17.7% HL vs. 19.2% HL); smaller interorbital width (11.8%–15.7% HL vs. 18.2% HL); longer upper jaw (26.9%–30.2% HL vs. 19.2% HL). In addition, molecular analysis using partial mitochondrial COI gene suggests that A. indicum is genetically closer to Ariosoma maurostigma and Ariosoma melanospilos with a divergence of 15.0% and 15.8%, respectively, and forms a well‐supported monophyletic clade.
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/jfb.15055