A new species of cirri-bearing eel of the genus Cirrhimuraena (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the coastal Bay of Bengal, India.

A new species of cirri-bearing ophichthidae eel Cirrhimuraena odishaensis sp. nov. is described here, on the basis of two specimens collected from the Palur canal and Talasari fish landing centre in Odisha, India. The distinguishing characters of Cirrhimuraena odishaensis sp. nov. that separate it from its congeners include the presence of a single row of mandibular teeth, origin of the dorsal fin directly above the midpoint of pectoral fin, vertebral counts (pre-dorsal 10, pre-anal 46-47, and total 160-162), and number of cirri (13) on the upper jaw. Morphologically Cirrhimuraena odishaensis shows close affinity with Cirrhimuraena yuanding and Cirrhimuraena orientalis. The new species differs from C. yuanding by origin of dorsal fin, number of intermaxillary and maxillary teeth, and length of head. The new species differs from C. orientalis with relatively higher vertebrae.

A new congrid eel, Rhynchoconger randalli sp. nov. (Congridae: Anguilliformes), with a pentagonal pattern of vomer dentition from the Bay of Bengal, Indian waters.

A new species Rhynchoconger randalli sp. nov. is described herein on the basis of 2 specimens collected from Paradeep fishing harbor, Odisha, India along the Bay of Bengal from a depth of about 3640 meters. The pentagonal vomerine teeth pattern is unique among all the Rhynchoconger species described to date. The new species is characterized by predorsal vertebrae 78 and preanal vertebrae 2931. The new species closely resembles the recently described Rhynchoconger smithi, but differs in having a larger eye diameter (12.512.9% HL vs. 9.59.7% in R. smithi), smaller interorbital space (13.113.5% HL vs. 15.018.1 in R. smithi), lower dorsal-fin ray count before vent 4447 vs. 5458 in R. smithi, and unique pentagonal vomerine teeth pattern.

First report of parasitic isopod Nerocila orbignyi (Cymothoidae) from India with its molecular characterization.

The present report provides the first material evidence of Nerocila orbignyi (Guérin-Méneville, 1832) collected from two different landing centres of the Chilika lagoon, thus claiming the first report of this parasite from India. One of the specimens was recorded from the host fish species Plotosus canius Hamilton 1822, constituting the first host record for this isopod. A key for the identification of N. orbignyi among its congeners is also provided. Molecular characterization of Cytochrome C Oxidase I (COI) gene of N. orbignyi was based on one specimen submitted for the first time to the NCBI database. This parasite is differentiated from the other available sequences of its related congeners retrieved from the NCBI and BOLD database by 26-34% in the Kimura 2 Parameter (K2P) distance and belongs to a separate cluster in Maximum likelihood (ML) tree analysis.

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 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.

Confirmation on the occurrence of Cymothoa indica, and first record of Norileca indica, with a note on new host records of Nerocila arres, and Nerocila depressa (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from Odisha coast, India.

The parasitic isopod Cymothoa indica Schiöedte and Meinert, 1884 was recorded from the buccal cavity of the host Glossogobius giuris (Hamilton, 1822) collected from Chilka Lake, Odisha in 1924, but its identification was doubtful as mentioned by the author in his book on "Fauna of Chilika Lake: Tanaidacea and Isopoda". The present report of parasitic isopod C. indica from the buccal cavity of the host Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1833 collected from the water of Bay of Bengal, Gopalpur-on-Sea confirms its occurrence along the Odisha coast. The record of the isopod parasite Norileca indica (H. Milne Edwards, 1840) from the branchial cavity of the host Atule mate (Cuvier, 1833) collected from the water of Bay of Bengal, Gopalpur-on-Sea is the first record of this parasite from the coastal water of Odisha, India. The record of Nerocila arres Bowman and Tareen, 1983 from the caudal peduncle of the host fish species Terapon puta Cuvier, 1829, and the isopod N. depressa Milne Edwards, 1840 from the host fish species Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus, 1758) are the new host records for these respective parasites.

First record of Lobothorax typus from Odisha coast, India, with molecular characterization and observation of its biphasic moulting.

Two distinct morphologies of Cymothoidae isopod, Lobothorax typus were collected from the marine water of Bay of Bengal, Goapalpur-on-Sea as the first record of this parasite from coastal water of Odisha, India. All specimens were found attached to the buccal region of different individuals of the same host fish Trichiurus lepturus. With the aid of COI gene sequencing and morphological analysis, the individuals were found to be conspecific. The most prominent variation among the two morphologies includes the size of 5th pereonite and pleon length to total body length ratio. These variations are as a result of the biphasic moulting process. Maximum Likelihood tree analysis based on COI gene sequences concluded the monophyletic taxonomy of different buccal attaching genera under the family Cymothoidae which is in congruence with their morphological divergence.

First record of Mothocya renardi and Mothocya collettei (Isopoda: Cymothoidae) from northern part of East Coast of India and new host record of Mothocya collettei.

The present record of different developmental stages of the parasite Mothocya renardi (Bleeker, 1857) and gravid female of Mothocya collettei Bruce, 1986 from different individuals of same host Strongylura leiura (Bleeker, 1850) collected from Bay of Bengal, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Odisha, India are the first record of these parasites from the northern part of east coast of India. The record of Mothocya collettei from the host Strongylura leiura is the first host record for this parasite.

A new species of the genus Cirrhimuraena (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae) from the Bay of Bengal, India.

A new species of the genus Cirrhimuraena (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae), Cirrhimuraena indica sp. nov., is described based on eight specimens collected from the Paradip (Odisha) and Petuaghat harbours (West Bengal) along the Bay of Bengal. The species is distinct in having the upper jaw fringed with 16-17 cirri before posterior nostril and 4-5 in between the anterior and posterior nostrils on the side; dorsal fin originates above the level of gill opening, predorsal length is 9.3-10.9 in total length; the head is relatively large, the length is 9.3-9.8 in total length; no infraorbital pores are observed between the nostrils; teeth are numerous, small, conical and in bands on each jaw; pores are present before the gill opening 10-11 and before anus 47-48; pectoral-fin length is 2.4-2.8 in head length; predorsal vertebrae are 8-10, pre-anal vertebrae 43-47 and total vertebrae 164-169. In the maximum likelihood tree analysis for COI gene, the new species belongs to the same clade as the other congener of Cirrhimuraena chinensis and is separated from the species morphologically and genetically.

A new white-spotted moray eel, Gymnothorax aurocephalus sp. nov. (Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from Andaman Sea, India.

Gymnothorax aurocephalus sp. nov. is described herein based on 4 specimens. Three were collected from off Swaraj Dweep Island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands (AN Islands) from a depth of 125-130 m and one specimen off Interview Island, AN Islands at a depth of 90 m. This new species is distinguishable from its congeners by the following combination of characters: chocolate brown color overlain with small irregular white spots, golden skin shadings close to rictus; anus slightly before midbody; pointed and serrated jaw teeth; uniserial teeth in jaws and vomer; vertebral formula 7/61/148-149. The species is compared to all its congeners with white spots.

Ophichthus kailashchandrai sp. nov. (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae): a new species of snake eel from Indian waters, Bay of Bengal.

A new snake eel (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae: Ophichthinae) species, Ophichthus kailashchandrai sp. nov., is described from three specimens, collected from the Shankarpur fishing harbour located on the northern part of the Bay of Bengal, West Bengal, India. Ophichthus kailashchandrai sp. nov. is distinguished from its congeners by having its dorsal-fin origin at the posterior third of the pectoral fin, preanal length 2.6-2.8 in TL, uniserial maxillary and mandibular teeth and vertebral count (predorsal vertebrae 14-15, preanal vertebrae 54-55, and total vertebrae 180-182).

Ophichthus chilkensis Chaudhuri, 1916 (Anguilliformes: Ophichthidae)-resurrection as a valid species from India, with re-description.

Ophichthus chilkensis Chaudhuri, 1916 has long been treated as a synonym of Pisodonophis cancrivorus (Richardson, 1848). O. chilkensis is hereby re-described on the basis of holotype from Chilika Lake, Odisha as well as ten fresh specimens from Talsari, Balasore district, Odisha and Digha, West Bengal. The present study confirms it belonging to the genus Ophichthus and resurrected as a valid species from the east coast of India. It is compared with its closest congener species, particularly with Ophichthus microcephalus Day, 1878, known from India.

A new short brown unpatterned moray eel Gymnothorax andamanensis (Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from Andaman waters, India.

Gymnothorax andamanensis sp. nov., a new short brown moray eel, is described here on the basis of two specimens collected from Port Mout, Port Blair, South Andaman (11.659327°N; 92.696148°E), caught using baited hand-lines in a sandy habitat at a depth of less than 2 m. The species is characterized in having the dorsal-fin origin before the gill opening, pre-anal length 2.1-2.2, jaw pores with black rim, two branchial pores, predorsal vertebrae 3, preanal vertebrae 57 and total vertebrae 135-136, teeth smooth, three large fang-like median intermaxillary teeth, biserial maxillary and uniserial vomerine teeth, and dentary teeth biserial with two teeth in each side in the second row of the dentary. The new species is compared with all 10 short brown unpatterned moray eels known from the world and two from Indian waters.

Gymnothorax odishi sp. nov. (Muraenidae: Muraeninae), a short brown unpatterned moray eel from Bay of Bengal, India.

Gymnothorax odishi sp. nov., a new short brown moray eel, is described here on the basis of eleven specimens collected from Gopalpur, Odisha, along the east coast of India, Bay of Bengal. The species is characterized with dorsal-fin origin before gill opening, jaw pores with dark rim, small black patch just behind the eye of about eye size or more, gill opening with dark rim, two branchial pores, predorsal vertebrae 4, preanal vertebrae 55-58 and total vertebrae 133-138, three large fang like median intermaxillary teeth, uniserial maxillary and vomerine teeth. The new species is compared with all short brown unpatterned moray eels known from the world.