Range Extension of Deep-Sea Cardinalfish, Apogon fugax from South-West Coast of India along with the First Molecular Analysis from Indian Waters
摘要
The elusive cardinalfish, Apogon fugax is documented for the first time from Kerala, south-west coast of India (n = 3) (75.62–84.28 mm SL). The specimens were collected from bycatch of the demersal shrimp trawlers operated at 250 to 340 m depth. The species was previously recorded from north-west coast of India, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Western Australia, and Pakistan. The present study provides a detailed taxonomic identification, molecular and phylogenetic analysis, and range extension of the species from the Kerala waters along south-eastern Arabian Sea with a record of new maximum standard length.