Additional Report and Taxonomic Description of Common Pike Conger Muraenesox bagio (Hamilton, 1822) from Dholai Fishing Harbour, Gujarat, Northwest Coast of India
Borichangar R. V *
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fisheries Science, K.U., Navsari, 396 450, India.
Parmar J. N.
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, College of Fisheries Science, K.U., Navsari, 396 450, India.
Bharda S. K.
Department of Fisheries Resource Management, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai 400 066, India.
Kotadiya D. P.
Department of Fisheries Extension, Economics and Statistics, College of Fisheries Science, Navsari, 396 450, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Muraenesox bagio was identified and described from Dholai fishing harbour on the Gujarat coast, northwest coast of India, marking the first recorded occurrence of this species in the region. Muraenesox bagio, a member of the family Muraenosocidae, shares significant morphological and genetic similarities with its closely related species, Muraenesox cinereus. This report confirms the presence of Muraenesox bagio along the northwest coast of India and provides a comprehensive account of its taxonomy and detailed morphological descriptions.
Keywords: Dholai fishing harbour, Muraenosocidae, Muraenesox bagio