Frist Record of Sewelle’s Cowray Rhinoptera sewelli (Misra, 1946) from Middle East coast of India

Abstract

The Sewelle’s cowray Rhinoptera sewelli (Misra, 1946) was recorded for the first time along the Visakhapatnam waters, Middle East coast of India. A detail description of species is given with illustrations. Eight specimens were collected from trawl catches of Visakhapatnam coast, East coast of India during the months of July, August and September of 2012. R. sewelli distinguished from its congeners mainly by the rows of the teeth; In R. sewelli teeth in nine rows in both jaws; two small serrated tail spines above its basal portion. The present study confirms the occurrence of Rhinoptera sewelli (Misra, 1946), from Middle East coast of India, the current geographical distribution and extends the range of the occurrence of this species to Bay of Bengal