First record of Lestrolepis japonica (Tanaka, 1908) Paralepididae in South-east coast of India

Abstract

Two specimens of Lestrolepis japonica (Tanaka, 1908) were collected from Tuticorin, South-east coast of India during January 2016 with the average total length of 194.83 ± 1.1 and average standard length of 181.55 ± 1.3. Though it was first recorded in 1970 at the west coast of India, but it is the first record from the east coast of India. The measurements of head length, body depth, snout length, upper jaw length, eye diameter, inter-orbital length, pre dorsal length, pre pectoral length, pre pelvic length, pre anal length, pectoral fin length, the distance from pectoral fin to pelvic fin, distance from pelvic fin to anal and caudal peduncle depth were measured. The counts of dorsal fin rays, pectoral rays, pelvic fin rays and anal fin rays were also counted from the obtained specimens. The counts and measurements of the obtained specimens were compared with existing specimens.