The most prominent genus of the family is Synanceiidae (Stonefishes), is sometimes placed in the Scorpaenidae family. The genus Minous Cuvier, 1829 recognized a total of 12 valid species Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2015) from the Indo-Pacific. The Synanceiidae is a diversified group of about 9 genera and 36 species distributed from coastal waters to the deep sea, distributed from the subarctic to tropical seas worldwide^[1,2]. The reproductive modes of scorpaenids are extremely varied. Oviparity is common to most genera; however, zygoparity and embryo parity, which are defined as spawning, fertilized eggs and embryos, respectively Blackburn et al. (1985). The primary commercial merit of stonefish is as an aquarium fish. Many first reports of the species of the family Synanceiidae are published from different parts of the world. Several ichthyologists worked with the genus Minous by^[3-11]. Most of the work was done by^[8] on Western Indian Ocean populations and South New Guinea waters^[6]. Some additional specimens of M. Longimanus species were also recorded in the Western Indian Ocean more recently^[12].

  The first report of Synanceiid species at Vizagapatam^[13] identified “Worrah- minoo” (Minousmonodactylus)^[14]. Other species under genus Minous, e.g. Choridactylus, from Indian sub-continent and Visakhapatnam coastal waters have also been identified in the past years^[15-19]. In the present article, we describe the identification of the species Minous pictus (Gunther, 1880) for the first time in Indian Coastal waters and provide detailed morph metric and meristic characterisation of these individuals.

Materials and Methods

  Specimens of Minous pictus (Gunther, 1880) 59 - 110 mm TL (n = 102) were collected from Visakhapatnam, India (17° 44′N, Long 83° 23′E) during the study period 2011 - 2015. The colour of the specimens, morphometric and meristic data were taken for fresh specimens at collection sites. The specimens were later preserved in 8% formalin for further studies. Fishes of the M. pictus were identified using recent fish taxonomic works and revisions. Taxonomic identification followed the works of^[2,8,9] and the methods for taking body measurements follows^[20]. Terminology of head spines follows^[21]. The specimens were preserved in 5% formalin in the department of marine living resources, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India.

Results and Discussion

  The specimens collected were identified as belonging to the species Minous pictus, as first described by Gunther (1880) in the seas of New Guinea (Figure-1a, 1b, 2). The 102 specimens collected presented a total length ranging from 59 to 110 mm TL, as shown in detail in (Table 1).

Figure 1: 1a: Minous pictus 102 mm, TL. 1b: Inner side of pectoral fin.

Meristic characters: Dorsal fin IX- XII, 9 - 13; Anal fin II, 8 - 10; Ventral fin I,5; Caudal fin 10 - 12; Pectoral finrays 11 + 1 = 12; Gill rakers 2 - 4 + 1 + 7 - 11 =; Lateral line tubes 18 - 20; Pyloric caeca 2 - 3; Vertebrae 24 (Figure 2)

Figure 2: Vertebrae of Minous pictus.

Morphometric data of 102 specimens given in (Table 1).

Table 1: Morphometric data of species of Minous pictus represented in the catches of Visakhapatnam, India.

  As depicted in (Figure 1a), the body is moderately compressed, dorsal profile of head slightly sloped from nape to snout and dorsal profile equal to ventral. Characterization of the the head shows that it is compressed, presenting a blunt snout and a moderately oblique mouth. The lower jaw projecting with small symphysial knob, with a short maxilla expands distally to below the front edge of the orbit. The edges of both jaws are papillose. The interorbital space broad deeply concave with finely serrated coronal ridges, diverging posterior over occiput to end on parietal base, and the eyes are small, with finely serrated supra orbital ridges. Nostrils close to each other, the anterior is small and round at the base of preorbital bone, and the posterior nostril with a low rim. Teeth are villiform, arranged in narrow bands in the jaws and two oval patches of teeth on vomer (palatine teeth are absent). Tongue smooth, small, with minute papillae. Gill openings are wide, membrane joined to isthmus; the pseudobranchiae are poorly developed and slit below fourth gill arch is present. Gill rakersare short, reduced to spiny knobs at either end. Operculamis moderately small. The preopercleis rounded, slightly produced at an angle on ventral, upper part straight and anopercular flap points its ends at the above anterior part of pectoral base.

  Head spines were well developed, lachrymal with two sharp spines over maxillary; the first points down and forward and the second down and to rear. The size of the second spine is about twice the length of the first. The suborbital ridge is finely denticulate. The preoperclepresents five spines, the upper is the the larger and the lower one is denticulated. Theopercular spine is flat, feeble and broad. The cleithral, supracleithral, lower posttemporal, nuchal, parietal, pterotic spines are serrated and blunt. Supplemental, preopercular, cleithral, postorbital, upper posttemporal, tympanic, sphenotic, postocular, supraocular, preocular and nasal spines are absent. Supra orbital ridge is denticulate, with serrated ridges. These trunk of these specimens appeared flabby, with a lateral line containing tubules (lateral pored tubes starting from the opercular flap down to the caudal peduncle) running high, posteriorly along base of soft dorsal. Edges of lower jaw with one long 2 - 4 small filament structure. Likewise, one long, 5 - 6 short filaments structure in the upper margin of the pupil is also seen; the head and upper half of trunk with a warty appearance.

  Dorsal fin continuous with membrane, dorsal spines sharp and moderately strong, the first dorsal spines sharp and moderately strong, the dorsal spine is short, usually less than one fourth of the second spine and close to base of the second; the second and third dorsal spine are the longest. A membrane spanning between two to four dorsal spines more distinctly notched than rest is seen. Pectoral fins elongate with undivided rays reaching to middle of anal fin as a maximum; origin of pelvics fins before that of pectorals, with undivided rays. Anal fins with two feeble spines completely covered with skin, second spine longer, caudal fin truncate.

Colour
  The body colouration patterns were variable between the individuals, ranging from dark brown to black, a pale pinkish colour on the lower flanks, milk white on ventral side andin the upper flanks dark oblique bands extended obliquely back from under the posterior portion of the spinous dorsal fin and a black blotch between anterior dorsal spines. The soft dorsal is yellowish with black pigmented areas and the tips of dorsal spines were dark brown; base of pectoral fin pale brown. Distal part of the pectoral fin is blackish and the inner side of the pectoral fin was variable, axil light brown or pale with stripes or rows of spots radiating outward along pectoral rays (Figure 1b). Anal fin pale pink with outer margin tinged with black. Pelvic fin brown with white markings and darker distally.

Note
  It is represented in bottom trawl catches and caught along with deep water fishes such as upenoids, priacanthids at depth range of 27 - 90 m. This species is rare in Visakhapatnam waters. This species was identified in different catches throughout the year, except in the months of January, May, and September to November. According to^[2] it grows to 110 mm TL. Earlier records of this species are by^[3] from Indo-Australian archipelago. Minous pictus is described from the Arafura Sea, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam populations are found in depths from 27 - 90 m^[2]. Thus, this is the first record of this species in India waters. Local Telugu name is “Woora-Minoo”. Although further studies are needed to understand why this species is appearing in Indian coastal waters, we speculate that therecent changes in environmental conditions of the area may be a permissive factor for the unusual biogeographic distribution of this species onto Indian waters.

Acknowledge:
  The authors are acknowledging to the Head, Marine Living Resources department, College of Science and Technology, Andhra University for providing facilities to carry out this work. The first author is very grateful to UGC, New Delhi, India for providing the fellowship during the tenure of the Ph.D programme.

References