Minous trachycephalus (Bleeker, 1855)

Ray, Dipanjan, Mohapatra, Anil, Tudu, Prasad Chandra & Mishra, Subhrendu S., 2021, First report of two species of the genus Minous Cuvier, 1829 (Scorpaeniformes: Synanceiidae) from Indian coast, with a key for the identification of Indian species, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 121 (4), pp. 505-510 : 507

Minous trachycephalus (Bleeker, 1855)

Small sized fishes with compressed and scale less body (except lateral line tube), head compressed with numerous bony ridges and weakly developed spines; snout blunt and longer than eye diameter ( Figure 2 ). Mouth small, jaw teeth in small band, palatine teeth absent but vomerine teeth present; 3 cirri resent on lower jaw. Preopercular spine 5, upper most large and backwardly directed, rest of four small; lacrimal bone with 2 spines, first one small, points down and forwardly directed, second one is large and backwardly directed; maxilla reaching just anterior margin of eyes. Dorsal fin with XI spines and 10 soft rays, originates vertically above preopercular margin; first dorsal spine much shorter than second dorsal spine and close to base of second dorsal spine; dorsal spines thin and flexible, Anal fin with II spines, and 8 soft rays. Pectoral fin reaching upto middle of anal fin; lower most pectoral ray single and free from rest of the pectoral fin. Gill rakers 11: 3+8. Vertebrae: 25; lateral line pores: 16.

Colour: Upper part of body grayish brown and lower part pale brown. Head, body, and fins with numerous dark spots. Dorsal fin anteriorly pale and darker posteriorly; anal fin base pale but tip darker; pectoral fin base pale, pectoral fin blackish. Inner side of pectoral fin grey with many white spots forming hexagonal boxes and the terminal part is dark with yellow margin. Ventral fins pale brown with irregular dark bands, and caudal fin with alternate grey and pale colour with black spots.

Distribution: West Pacific: South China Sea, Northern Indonesia and Ceylon ( Sri Lanka) in Indian Ocean ( Eschmeyer et al. 1979). The present study extends the range of the species to the east coast of India. Eschmeyer et al., (1979) also given hint about possibility of this species widely distributed in shallow waters.

Figures

Figure 2. Minous trachycephalus (Bleeker, 1855).