Minous pictus Gunther, 1880

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 : 506-507

Minous pictus Gunther, 1880

Small sized fishes with a compressed and scale less body (except lateral line tube), head compressed, possess many bony ridges and well developed spines ( Figure 1 ). Snout slightly longer than eyes, Mouth small, jaw teeth in a small band, palatine teeth absent, and vomerine teeth present. Preopercular spines 5, first one largest and other four are small, First lacrimal spine forward and downwardly directed, second spine is more or less twice of first spine. Maxilla reaches vertically below anterior margin of eyes, cirri present on lower jaw. Dorsal fin spines thin and flexible, with XI spines, and 12 soft rays, and 1st dorsal spine much shorter than 2nd dorsal spine. Anal fin is with II spines and 10 soft rays. Pectoral fin reaches middle of anal fin; lower most pectoral ray free from other parts of pectoral fin. Gill rakers 16-17: 5+11-

12. Vertebrae: 26; lateral line pores: 19-20.

Colour: Upperpartofbodylightbrownwithalternating pale and dark bands; lower part of body pale. Posterior part of dorsal rays and soft dorsal spine are with pale and dark bands. Anal fin pale with dark margin. Pectoral fin blackish with light brown base; inner surface of pectoral fin pale brown with small whitish spots radiating outward along pectoral fin rays. Ventral fin pale brown with dark irregular stripes, and caudal fin pale with dark margin.

Distribution: The species was reported from Arafura Sea, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Viet Nam ( Eschmeyer et al., 1979). Now this report extends the range of the species to the east coast of India.

Figures

Figure 1. Minous pictus Gunther, 1880.