A New Gerreid Fish Species and Redescription of Gerres maldivensis Regan, 1902 from the Indian Ocean (Perciformes: Gerreidae)

Abstract

Abstract A new gerreid fish species, Gerres mozambiquensis, is described on the basis of a holotype and one paratype from Larde Estuary, southern Nampura, Mozambique. The species is characterized by the following unique combination of characters: relatively deep body (greatest depth 46–47% SL); robust second anal-fin spine (greatest width of second spine/greatest width of third spine = 1.7–1.8); three supraneural bones configuration (0/0/0+2/); dorsal fin with nine spines and ten rays; lateral-line scales 43 or 44; 4 or 4½ scales between fifth dorsal-fin spine base and lateral line; caudal-fin lobes short, the tips rounded with growth; and six to eight indistinct dark vertical bars (bar width about half pupil diameter) on lateral surface of body. Gerres maldivensis Regan, 1902, formerly considered a junior synonym of G. erythrourus (Bloch, 1791) ( = G. abbreviatus), is reinstated as a valid Indo-Pacific species. It is characterized by body depth 43% SL, approximately eight faint dark vertical bars on b...