Abstract

The dwarf monocle breams of Genus Parascolopsis are bottom living small fishes generally seen in the outer shelf and continental slope waters and are represented worldwide by 12 species. Morphometric measurements, meristic counts and identification of the specimens follows standard methods. Parascolopsis capitinis Russell (J South Asian Nat Hist. 2:63–6, 1996), is reported for the first time from Indian waters based on 22 specimens (192–232 mm total length) collected from Cochin fisheries harbour in the South-west coast of India on 5 November 2012. This is the first report of the fish from Indian waters and adds to the five species already reported from this genus from Indian waters. Full description of the species is provided.

Highlights

  • Dwarf monocle breams (Genus Parascolopsis) are bottom living small fishes, generally seen in the outer shelf and continental slope waters with soft bottom at depths up to 500

  • Genus Parascolopsis have been previously assigned to the genus Scolopsis, but later Boulenger (1901) proposed the genus name Parascolopsis for his new species Parascolopsis townsendi, based on specimens collected in 360–409 m in the Gulf of Oman

  • Parascolopsis capitinis is reported to be distributed throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific, ranging from Western Indian Ocean to North East Australia as far as South Japan and southwards to Delagoa Bay on the coast of East Africa (Russell & Golani 1993)

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Summary

Introduction

Dwarf monocle breams (Genus Parascolopsis) are bottom living small fishes, generally seen in the outer shelf and continental slope waters with soft bottom at depths up to 500. Genus Parascolopsis have been previously assigned to the genus Scolopsis, but later Boulenger (1901) proposed the genus name Parascolopsis for his new species Parascolopsis townsendi, based on specimens collected in 360–409 m in the Gulf of Oman. Parascolopsis capitinis is reported to be distributed throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific, ranging from Western Indian Ocean (including Red Sea and Persian Gulf ) to North East Australia as far as South Japan and southwards to Delagoa Bay on the coast of East Africa (Russell & Golani 1993). P. capitinis is distinguished by its relatively large head, moderately long pelvic fins, which reach almost up to the vent; and by a black spot on the upper base of the pectoral fin Twelve species of Parascolopsis have been recorded worldwide- P. aspinosa (Rao & Rao), from

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