Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India

Taxonomy of puffer fish (Pisces: Tetraodontidae) represented in the catches of Visakhapatnam, central eastern coast of India

Volume 57 Issue 2

K. Sujatha and P. Padmavathi

10.6024/jmbai.2015.57.2.1798-14

Abstract

Fishes of the family Tetraodontidae popularly known as toad fishes, puffer fishes, blowfishes and globefishes have become regular in the trawl catches of Visakhapanam. Therefore, there is an urgent need to have proper information on these resources for sustainable development and management of non-target species. The present paper provides a record of species, descriptions and biometric data of fishes of the family Tetraodontidae off Visakhapatnam. Fifteen species belonging to six genera : Arothron, Canthigaster, Chelondon, Lagocephalus, Takifugu and Torquigener are represented mainly in trawl and trammel net by- catches and shore seine catches in the coastal waters of Visakhapatnam. Arothron firmamentum was first record from Indian waters and circum global species Lagocephalus lagocephalus was first record from mainland of India.

Keywords

Tetraodontid fishes, taxonomy, species composition, Visakhapatnam

Date : 27-12-2015