Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

On the systematics of Rainbow sardines Dussumieria spp. (Family : Dussumieriidae, Pisces), from Indian Waters.

Volume 24 Issue 1&2

P. N. Radhakrishnan Nair

Abstract

The systematics of the rainbow sardines of the Genus Dussumieria Valenciennes has been studied in detail. The existence of two species namely Dussumieria acuta Valenciennes and D. hasseltii Bleeker in Indian waters has been re-established as against the view of Whitehead (1963) who synonymised these two species to one namely D. acuta Val. In this study specimens collected from east and west coasts of India were analysed morphometrically and meristically and the characters compared statistically. Clear differences in many of the characters, sufficient enough to substantiate the existence of two different species, were noticed. The two species are redescribed and photographs presented in the text.

Date : 30-12-1982