New Record of Fanged Seabream, Sparidentex jamalensis (Perciformes: Sparidae) From Indian Waters

Fanged sea bream, Sparidentex jamalensis Amir et al. (Pak J Zool 46(2):471–477, 2014) has been recently recorded for the first time in Indian waters from Korapuzha, Kadalundi and Moorad estuaries, Calicut, Kerala. Previously this species was reported only from Pakistan waters globally and till date there are no other reports available on the distribution of this species elsewhere. The morphometric measurements and meristic counts of the specimens collected in the present study were similar to those specimens reported from type locality with few variations. The variations observed in comparison with specimens from Pakistan are the counts of dorsal-fin spines (11–12 vz 11); dorsal-fin rays (11–12 vz 11); anal-fin rays (81/2 – 9 vz 8) pored lateral-line scales (45- 48 vz 45- 47) and in the number of gill rakers in the upper limb (6- 9 vz 6- 7). The difference observed in morphometric and meristic characters owes to the origin of species from two different geographical regions or genetic differences or environmental impact, or combination of all the above. The present report indicates an extension of the geographical distribution range of S. jamalensis from its localities. Identification of the species was further confirmed using DNA barcoding.