Abstract
In this paper, we report finding of 74 specimens of Neomerinthe amplisquamiceps (Scorpaendiae) and field observations of this species from the Indian coast. Specimens of N. amplisquamiceps were captured between 150 and 300 m depth with a 38 m high speed demersal trawl (crustacean version, codend, mesh size 40 mm) and 46 m Expo model demersal trawl (mesh size 30 mm). This rare, poorly known species is the only member of the genus Neomerinthe in the Indian ichthyofauna. The new records improve the current knowledge on N. amplisquamiceps, and refine the limits of its geographical distribution and habitat preference. Analyses of morphometric and meristic characters confirmed the identity of the specimens and are described, compared and summarized.
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Acknowledgements
The authors extend gratitude to the authorities of Marine Living Resources, College of Science and Technology, Andhra University for providing the necessary facilities and to the University grants Commission, Govt. of India, New Delhi for financial support through UGC-Rajiv Gandhi National Fellow Research Awardee (No. F.14-2-1/2010(SA-II) dated 18/5/2011).We would especially like to thank Prof Donald Charles Taphorn, Ichthyology Laboratory, Royal Ontario Museum, Toranto, Canada, for his valuable suggestions and help in improving the English in this manuscript. We also thank all the anonymous referees for their comments and suggestions.
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Naranji, M.K., Fricke, R., Netto-Ferreira, A.L. et al. New Record and Range Extension of the Orange Scorpionfish, Neomerinthe amplisquamiceps (Scorpaenidae), in the Coastal Waters of Visakhapatnam, India. Thalassas 36, 399–404 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-020-00210-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-020-00210-2