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New Distributional Record of the Short-Snouted Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis obtusa (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), from Indian Coastal Waters

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Abstract

A new record of the Short–snouted scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis obtusa Randall et Eschmeyer, 2002 is reported from India’s southeast coast. Three specimens were collected (67.6–75.1 mm SL) as trawl-fishery bycatch at Tuticorin fishing harbour, India on 21 April 2022. Morphometric and meristic characters were measured and compared with published data. The record of this species from India expands the known distribution of S. obtusa, previously reported from Myanmar eastward. The above species is a new addition to the list of marine fishes of Indian coastal waters.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors sincerely thank the authorities of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, and the first author would like to express his sincere gratitude to Kamaraj College, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu for logistic support provided during the study period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Zoology Research Centre, Kamaraj College, Thoothukudi (Affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University), Abisekapatti, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India

    S. Subburaman

  2. Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Atal Bhavan, Puthuvype, Kochi, India

    A. Murugan

  3. Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu, India

    G. Mahadevan

  4. Centre for Marine Science and Technology, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Rajakkamangalam, Tamil Nadu, India

    G. Immanuel

  5. Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde in Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany

    R. Fricke

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  1. S. Subburaman
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  2. A. Murugan
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  4. G. Immanuel
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Correspondence to G. Mahadevan.

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Subburaman, S., Murugan, A., Mahadevan, G. et al. New Distributional Record of the Short-Snouted Scorpionfish, Scorpaenopsis obtusa (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), from Indian Coastal Waters. J. Ichthyol. 63, 598–603 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0032945223030153

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