New record of deep-sea helmet gurnard from Indian Ocean

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei J.P. Müller, 1845

Order: Dactylopteriformes Gill, 1861

Family: Dactylopteridae Gill, 1861

Dactyloptena tiltoni Eschmeyer, 1997

Collection: Southeastern Arabian Sea, west of Kollam, Kerala, 8.58°N–9.92°N, 75.50°E–76.25°E, depth data NA, 01.05.2022, commercial trawler

Voucher No.: CMLRE IO/OV/FIS/00733

Description: D I+O+V+i, A i 6, P 33, V I 4. Body anteriorly subcylindrical in transverse section, posteriorly tapering. Head with prominent post-temporal spine, tiny grooves in exposed bone tissue. Snout with hollow ventral side, significantly protruding beyond inferior mouth. Premaxilla length 2/3 that of maxilla, extending to anterior end of pupil. Jaw teeth granular, forming a thin band; maxilla, vomer, palatine toothless. Preopercular spine longer than post-temporal spine. Body scales robust, dorsal scales movable; 3 pairs of large keel-like scales along ventrocaudal margin. Pectoral fin significantly extended, deeply grooved with tiny anterior and vast posterior sections. Upper lobe of caudal fin slightly longer than lower lobe, emarginated. Body ventrally pale, dorsally greyish-brown with irregular greyish patches, head dark. First and free dorsal spine membrane uniformly dark. Soft dorsal fin pale, with multiple rows of black blotches on each ray; middle of spinous dorsal fin darkish. Pectoral fins dark brown with yellow and black patches; ray with white tips; pelvic, anal and caudal fins paler.

Biological association: None.

Remarks: New record of deep-sea helmet gurnard from Indian Ocean

Distribution: Philippines, Japan, Australia and SEAS. Depth range: 119–565 m.

Distribution map:

Identified by: Davood Nihal

Publication: Davood N., Rajeeshkumar M.P., Saha P., Aneesh Kumar K.V., Hashim M. (2024) New record of plain helmet gurnard fish Dactyloptena tiltoni (Teleostei: Dactylopteriformes) from the Northern Indian Ocean. Thalassas, 40: 601–606. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-024-00672-8