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Type: Article
Published: 2022-08-09
Page range: 188-194
Abstract views: 360
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A new congrid eel, Rhynchoconger randalli sp. nov. (Congridae: Anguilliformes), with a pentagonal pattern of vomer dentition from the Bay of Bengal, Indian waters

Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha, India 761002 2Department of Marine Sciences, Berhampur University, Bhanja Bihar, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India 760007
Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha, India 761002
4Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya, Kismat Bajkul, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, India 721655
Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha, India 761002
Estuarine Biology Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Gopalpur-on-Sea, Ganjam, Odisha, India 761002
Pisces taxonomy marine fish Congrinae new discovery Odisha

Abstract

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 36–40 meters. The pentagonal vomerine teeth pattern is unique among all the Rhynchoconger species described to date. The new species is characterized by predorsal vertebrae 7–8 and preanal vertebrae 29–31. The new species closely resembles the recently described Rhynchoconger smithi, but differs in having a larger eye diameter (12.5‒12.9% HL vs. 9.5‒9.7% in R. smithi), smaller interorbital space (13.1‒13.5% HL vs. 15.0‒18.1 in R. smithi), lower dorsal-fin ray count before vent 44‒47 vs. 54‒58 in R. smithi, and unique pentagonal vomerine teeth pattern.

 

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