First record of deep-water hatchetfish from Indian waters

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei Müller, 1845

Order: Stomiiformes Rosen, 1973

Family: Sternoptychidae Duméril, 1805

Sternopteryx obscura Garman, 1899

Collection: Indian Ocean, northwest of Chagos archipelago, 3.88°S, 66.46°E, 400 m, 15.09.2015 (FORVSS 344I, St. 10), Cosmos Trawl; Indian Ocean, west of Chagos archipelago, 5.44°S, 65.96°E, 400 m, 16.09.2015 (FORVSS 344I, St. 11), Cosmos Trawl; Indian Ocean, west of Mauritius, 5.13°N, 69.05°E, 506 m, 02.09.2015 (FORVSS 344I, St. 07), Cosmos Trawl; Indian Ocean, southwest of Maldives, 2.52°S, 67.57°E, 400 m, 14.09.2015 (FORVSS 344I, St. 09), Cosmos Trawl; SE Arabian Sea, west of Maldives, 6.39°N, 70.04°E, 120 m, 11.09.2015 (FORVSS 344I, St. 06), Cosmos Trawl; Indian Ocean, west of Maldives, 0.79°N, 67.98°E, 600 m, 13.09.2015 (FORVSS 344I, St. 08), Cosmos Trawl; SE Arabian Sea, northeast of Kiltan Island, Lakshadweep, 11.70°N, 73.72°E, 200 m, 13.10.2013 (FORVSS 320, St. 15), 45m Mid Water Trawl.

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/SS/FIS/00593, IO/SS/FIS/00594, IO/SS/FIS/00595, IO/SS/FIS/00596, IO/SS/FIS/00597, IO/SS/FIS/00598, IO/SS/FIS/00599

Description: Trunk expanded horizontal posterior to the AN photophores; anal fin with gradually reducing pterygiophores; dorsal fin base longer than dorsal blade spine; trunk depth less than trunk length, SAN photophore located near AN.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: First distributional record from Indian waters.

Distribution: Circumglobal. Depth range: 500–2700 m.

Distribution map:

Identified by: Rajeev R.

Publication: Rajeev R., Rajeeshkumar M.P., Cubelio S.S., Saravanane N. (2023) An updated checklist of Stomiiformes from Indian waters with nine new records. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 102: e95.

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