First Report of Harlequin Sandperch Parapercis Maculata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from Parangipettai Waters, Southeast Coast of India

Indian Journal of Geo Marine Sciences Vol. 46 (01), January 2017, pp 203-205

First report of Harlequin sandperch Parapercis maculata (Bloch and Schneider, 1801) (Perciformes: Pinguipedidae) from Parangipettai waters, Southeast coast of India

P. Mohanchander, M. Ashiq Ur Rahman, K. Kadharsha, P. S. Lyla* & S. Ajmal Khan

Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University Parangipettai - 608502, Tamil Nadu, India

*[E-mail: [email protected]]

Received 12 February 2013; revised 01 May 2013

Harlequin sandperch, Parapercis maculata is reported for the first time in Parangipettai waters. It was collected from the trawl catches landed at Mudasalodai. Morphmetric and meristic measurements were made. Specimens collected ranged from 119 to 122mm in standard length. It is known to be distributed in subtropical and temperate waters of the Western Indian Ocean (Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf). However its distribution along the coasts of Bay of Bengal is rare.

[Keywords: Harlequin Sandperch, Parapercis maculata, Morphometric, Meristic]

Harlequin sandperch Parapercis maculata well Morphometric measurements taken to the known for its colour pattern as been shifted nearest millimeter are given in Table 1. For the from family Mugiloididae to the family sake of comparision, the morphometric data of Pinguipedidae 1, 2, 3 which houses sandperches Randall 2 are also given. The total number of belonging to 79 species and, 7 valid genera 4. spines and rays in the dorsal fin are V, 21; I, 17 The members belonging to the genus Parapercis in the anal fin; 17 in pectoral fin; 6 in pelvic fin are surprisingly uniform in morphology with a and 16 in caudal fin. The number of lateral line near-cylindrical body anteriorly, becoming well scale is 56; lateral line mid-dorsal scale 6 and compressed posteriorly. These have ctenoid lateral line mid-ventral scale 12. Mouth is large, scales on head and cycloid scales on abdomen. vomer with a chevron-shaped patch of small P. maculata is distributed in the ecosystems of incurved conical tooth in three to four rows; no Indian ocean (Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf) 2,5. palatine teeth; lips smooth. Maxilla reaches It is reported to be associated with corals 2. As nearly the centre of eye vertically and the upper coral reefs are conspicuous by their absence in and lower jaws have a row of curved canines. A the northern part of Bay of Bengal due to higher band of villiform teeth is present in front of the discharge of sediments, it has not been reported upper jaw. from there. However its occurrence in the south- western part of bay (where reefs are present- Gulf of Mannar) is rare. The present paper reports the occurrence of this species in Parangipettai waters where there is no extensive coral formation. A total of five specimens were collected and deposited in the Marine Reference Museum, Centre of Advanced study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University (voucher number: CASMB 1039 – CASMB 1043) and their descriptions measuring 119-122 (120.5) mm in standard length (Fig.1). Fig 1— Parapercis maculata (CASMB 1039) recorded in the present study

204 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 46, NO. 01, JANUARY 2016

Table 1— Morphometric measurements of Parapercis maculata collected from Parangipettai, Tamil Nadu Parameters John E. Randall (2008) Present study (in mm) Morphometric characters Standard length (mm) 121 119-122 (120.5) Greatest body depth 19.8 18.5-19.8 (19.1) Body depth at anal fin origin 19.1 18.3-19.3 (18.8) Body width 14.1 13.4-14.2 (13.8) Head length 25.7 23.6-25.7 (24.6) Snout length 8.5 6.9-8.6 (7.7) Orbit diameter 6.6 5.4-6.6 (6.0) Check depth 4.2 3.2-4.4 (3.8) Interorbital width 4 3.7-4.0 (3.8) Upper-jaw length 10.9 10.2-10.9 (10.5) Caudal-peduncle depth 9.4 8.8-9.4 (9.1) Caudal-peduncle length 10.1 9.6-10.1 (9.8) Predorsal length 25.2 24.4-25.3 (24.8) Preanal length 42.2 41.7-42.3 (42) Prepelvic length 21.2 20.1-21.2 (20.6) Dorsal-fin base 65.2 64.7-65.2 (64.9) First dorsal spine 1.7 1.2-1.8 (1.5) Fourth dorsal spine 6.8 5.3-6.8 (6.0) Fifth dorsal spine 4.4 3.8-4.4 (4.1) Longest dorsal ray 15.6 14.4-15.7 (15.0) Anal fin base 47.3 46.2-47.4 (46.8) Anal spine length 4 3.7-4.1 (3.9) Longest anal ray 11.3 10.7-11.4 (11.0) Caudal fin length 20.1 19.8-20.2 (20) Pectoral fin length 19.8 17.9-19.8 (18.8) Pelvic spine length 7.5 7.0-7.6 (7.3) Pelvic fin length 18.4 18.1-18.5 (18.3) Meristic characters Dorsal spines V V Dorsal soft rays 21 21 Anal spine I I Anal soft rays 17 17 Pectoral fins 17 17 Pelvic fins 6 6 Caudal fins - 16 Lateral line scales 57 56-57 Lateral line middorsal - 6 Lateral line midventral scales - 12 Weight - 28 gm Sex Male Male

The spinous dorsal is with a large black Bengal. It was reported from the Tuticorin area basal spot mainly between the third and fifth in Gulf of Mannar having the coral reefs 2. It is spines; soft dorsal fin with rows of round orange of interest to note that presently it is being spots, the anal fins with small irregular white reported from Parangipettai waters having no spots; about lower third of caudal fin is coral reefs as such. The occurrence of this characterized by dark brown color with small species here suggests the presence of coral white spots along the rays and the rest of the patches. Occurrence of ornamental species fins with light grey color having small white and reported earlier from the nearby Cuddalore orange spots along the rays. Caudal fin is either waters lends credence to this fact 8. It may be truncate or emarginated. One spine on the probably be associated with the reef patches opercle 2,6. Gill rakers short and finely spinous, occurring here. Further studies should be the longest about one-third length of longest gill initiated to locate the reef patches, filaments. depth and extent of patches besides fauna The holotype of this species was collected associated of these patches. Such studies will from the southeast coast of India at Tranquebar bring to light the population status of region in 18017 . As this was lost, the neotype P.maculata so also other reef associated fishes was collected from Tuticorin region2. Only few in Parangipettai waters. reports are available on its occurrence in Bay of

MOHANCHANDER et al.: FIRST REPORT OF HARLEQUIN SANDPERCH PARAPERCIS MACULATA 205

Acknowledgement 4 Ho, H.C. & Shao, K.T., Parapercis randalli, a new Authors are thankful to the Ministry of sandperch (Pisces: Pinguipedidae) from southern Taiwan. Zootaxa, 2690 (2010) 59-67. Earth Sciences, Ocean Atmospheric Science and 5 Randall, J.E., Pinguipedidae (Parapercidae, Technology Cell (OASTC) on Marine Biology, Mugiloididae). Sandperches, FAO species for the financial support in the form of research identification guide for fishery purposes, in: The project. living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific edited by K.E. Carpenter & V. Niem, Vol. 6. Bony fishes paret 4 (Labridae to Latimeriidae), (estuarine References crocodiles, FAO, Rome) 2001, pp. 3501-3510. 1 Randall, J.E., Coastal Fishes of Oman. (University of 6 Cantwell, G.E., A revision of the genus Parapercis Hawaii Press, Honolulu) 1995, pp. xiii – 439. family Mugiloididae. Pacific Science 3 (1964) 239- 2 Randall, J.E., Six new sandperches of the genus 280. Parapercis from the western Pacific, with description 7 Bloch, M.E. & Schneider, J.G., Systema of a neotype for P. maculate (Bloch and Schneider, Ichthyologiae, (reprinted by von J. Cramer & Lehr, 1801). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 19 (2008) 159- 1967, Sauderiano Commissum, Berlin) 1801, pp. 1x - 178. 584. 3 Rosa, I.L. & Rosa, R.S., Pinguipes Cuvier and 8 Ajmal khan, S., Ramesh, S. & Lyla, P.S., Diversity of Valencinnes and Pinguipedidae Gunther, the valid coral reef fishes in Cuddalore waters, south-east coast names for the fish taxa usually known as Mugiloides of India, Indian Journal of Fisheries, 3(2008) 221- and Mugiloididae. Copeia 4 (1987) 1048-1051. 226.