K. K. Bineesh

Catch composition, reproductive biology and diet of the bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus (Squaliformes: Echinorhinidae) from the south‐eastern Arabian Sea

Fishery and biological data are presented for the poorly known bramble shark Echinorhinus brucus (Squaliformes: Echinorhinidae), from the deep waters of the south-eastern Arabian Sea. A total of 5318 individuals from by-catch landings of deep-water bottom set longlines, gillnets and shrimp trawl fisheries operating at depths of 200-1200 m were recorded between January 2008 and December 2011 at the Kochi Fisheries Harbour (Kerala). A total of 431 individuals, from 46 to 318 cm total length (L(T)) and 0·8 to 132 kg total mass (M(T)), were examined to determine biological data for this species. The LT at which 50% were mature (L(T)50) for females and males was estimated at 189 and 187 cm LT. Litter size ranged from 10 to 36 and size at birth was between 42 and 46 cm L(T). Dietary analysis of stomach contents revealed E. brucus feeds on a variety of prey including crustaceans (69% index of relative importance, I(RI)), teleosts (25·8% I(RI)), cephalopods (1·7% I(RI)) and elasmobranchs (0·7% I(RI)). This study provides the first detailed biological data for this species and also highlights the extent of the by-catch fishery for this species in Indian waters.

Biological observations on the bristly catshark Bythaelurus hispidus from deep waters off the south-west coast of India

Biological data are presented for the poorly known bristly catshark Bythaelurus hispidus based on specimens collected from the by-catch of the commercial deep-sea shrimp trawl fishery operating in the Arabian Sea at depths of 200-500 m off the south-west coast of India. One hundred and sixty-two individuals, which ranged from 120 to 366 mm total length (L(T)), were collected for this study. Size-at-maturity (L₅₀) for females and males was estimated at 252 and 235 mm L(T), respectively. The reproductive mode of B. hispidus was aplacental viviparity, which is the rarest reproductive mode within the Scyliorhinidae and is considered to be the most advanced of the three reproductive modes occurring within this family. Dietary analysis of stomach contents revealed B. hispidus feeds on a variety of prey, primarily fishes.

Report of crocodile shark Pseudocarcharias kamoharai (Pseudocarchariidae) from deep waters off the south-west coast of India

The crocodile shark, Pseudocarcharias kamoharai previously unknown from the Arabian Sea of India is reported from the south-western coast (Kerala). The specimen is described and figured.

Aspects of the biology of the pygmy ribbontail catshark Eridacnis radcliffei (Proscylliidae: Carcharhiniformes) from the south‐west coast of India

Biological data are presented for the pygmy ribbontail catshark Eridacnis radcliffei based on specimens collected from the by-catch of the commercial deep-sea shrimp trawl fishery operating in the Arabian Sea off the south-west coast of India. A total of 549 individuals, from 101 to 257 mm total length (L(T)) and 2·2 to 56 g, were collected. The L(T) at first maturity (L(T50)) of females and males was estimated at 183 and 170 mm, respectively, and analysis of stomach contents revealed that E. radcliffei feeds primarily on crustaceans.

Notes on the Indian swellshark, Cephaloscyllium silasi (Scyliorhinidae: Carcharhiniformes) from deep waters off the west coast of India

The Indian swellshark Cephaloscyllium silasi is a poorly known deep water scyliorhinid (Carcharhiniformes) shark described from the south-west coast of India (off Kollam). Since the original description, reports of this species are absent due to rarity of specimens. This paper presents the first report of its egg case and also provides detailed morphological data about C. silasi based on recently collected materials.

First report of longfin escolar, Scombrolabrax heterolepis (Perciformes: Scombrolabracidae) from Indian waters

The taxonomy of deep-sea fishes of India was pioneered by the outstanding works of A.W. Alcock, based on the samples collected during the voyage of the Indian marine survey steamer, HMS ‘Investigator’. Alcock’s publications (1889–1907) are the major detailed work on the deep-sea fauna of Indian waters. Recent studies on deep-sea fishes from the Indian exclusive economic zone has resulted in the description of many new species and new records from Indian waters (Oommen, 1978; Sajeevan et al., 2009; Akhilesh et al., 2010; Bineesh et al., 2010; Kurup et al., 2010; Anderson & Bineesh, 2011).

Redescription of Chlorophthalmus corniger, a senior synonym of Chlorophthalmus bicornis (Family: Chlorophthalmidae)

Chlorophthalmus corniger is redescribed on the basis of recently collected specimens. The species is redefined as a species of Chlorophthalmus with the lower jaw terminating in a distinctly projecting horizontal plate with strong, spine-like processes directed forward from the plates corners; body silvery grey, with numerous minute black spots and traces of broad darker crossbars; base of anterior dorsal fin spines and distal parts of dorsal fins black; adipose fin tiny with numerous black spots; caudal fin black; 3·5 scales above lateral line; three rows of cheek scales; head very large, 34·3-40·1% standard length (LS ); eye large, 29·8-40·8% head length (LH ); pectoral fin long, extending to beyond dorsal fin base, 21·7-26·2% LS . Chlorophthalmus bicornis is a junior synonym of C. corniger based on the examination of the type series of both species. It is confined to the northern half of the Indian Ocean, reliably recorded from Somalia and the Gulf of Aden to southern Java, Indonesia, at depths between 200 and 500 m. A lectotype and three paralectotypes were designated for C. corniger. DNA barcodes for Indian species of Chlorophthalmus were generated.

Report of razor fish, Iniistius twistii (Labridae: Perciformes) from the south-west coast of India

Wrasse (order Perciformes: family Labridae) comprise the second largest family of marine fish, with 509 species and 68 genera, the majority of which inhabits coastal waters (Nelson, 2006; Eschmeyer & Fong, 2012). The taxonomic history is complicated for many labrids, as juveniles, males and females can have different colour patterns and morphology, and some early descriptions were limited. The razor fish, genus Iniistius Gill 1862 was considered a synonym of Xyrichtys Cuvier 1814, but the former was resurrected to generic level by Randall & Earle (2002). This genus contains 19 valid species (Eschmeyer & Fong, 2012), and the characteristics of the genus are that the origin of the dorsal fin is over or less than half an orbit diameter behind the eye and that the first two dorsal spines are flexible (Randall & Earle, 2002).

A new record of Titan cardinalfish, Holapogon maximus (Apogonidae) along the south-west coast of India

Apogonidae (cardinalfish), a speciose marine family, has about 23 genera and 347 valid species. Mostly shallow water inhabitants of pan tropical/subtropical marine environments, a few are found in brackish and freshwater environments (Nelson, 2006; Fraser & Allen, 2010; Froese & Pauly, 2010). Apogonid fish are usually smaller in size (,100 mm, total length) but a few species of genus, Apogon, Holapogon, Apogonichthyoides, Cheilodipterus, Glossamia and Pseudamia grow to larger sizes (Fraser, 1973; Froese & Pauly, 2010).