New Geographical Record of the Rainbow Runner, Elagatis bipinnulata (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) (Perciformes: Carangidae) from the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper describes the first record of the rainbow runner Elagatis bipinnulata (Perciformes: Carangidae) from Cox’s Bazar, the North eastern part of Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Two specimens of E. bipinnulata ware collected on 23 June 2018 from the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Fish Landing Center of Cox’s Bazar. Morphometric and molecular approaches were applied for identification. Dorsal and anal fins with terminal two rayed finlet, absence of scute, upper jaw ending distinctly before vertical at front margin of eye are the key characteristics to this species. Six spines in first dorsal fin and (24 + 2) fin rays in second dorsal fin; (17 + 2) anal fin rays with one spine present. The morphometric, meristic and molecular analyses thus confirmed the presence of E. bipinnulata in Bangladesh. This report updates the geographical distribution for this species confirming its presence in the coastal region of Bangladesh, and extends the number of marine fish known from the area.