A new species of elongate unpatterned moray eel of the genus Gymnothorax (Muraenidae: Muraeninae) from the Bay of Bengal.
An elongate, brown unpatterned moray eel, Gymnothorax indicus sp. nov., is described based on four specimens collected from the northern Bay of Bengal. The new species is differentiated from other elongate, unpatterned moray eels in having the following combination of characters: anus at about mid-point of body, preanal length 2.0 in total length; snout blunt and short; dorsal fin margin black, 5 mandibular pores; maxillary teeth uniserial, sharp and depressible, total vertebrae 194 (MVF: 9-79-194).
Marine Aquarium and Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India, Digha, India 721 428; Email: anil2k7@gmail.com.
Anil
A
Mohapatra
Bajkul Milani Mahavidyalaya, Kismat Bajkul, Purba Medinipur, W. Bengal, India.; Email: anil2k7@gmail.com.
Dipanjan
D
Ray
Smithsonian Institution, Museum Support Center, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland MD 2076; Email: unknown.
David G
DG
Smith
Marine Fish Section, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, India 700 016; Email: unknown.
Subhrendu Sekhar
SS
Mishra
D000818:Animals; D004524:Eels / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification*; D007194:India; D019156:Indian Ocean