Taxonomic review of the genera Balistoides, Pseudobalistes and Parabalistes of the family Balistidae with redescription of species occurring in Indian Seas

Fish samples under the the three genera Balistoides, Pseudobalistes and Parabalistes of the family Balistidae were collected from Kalpeni, Minicoy and Agatti islands of Lakshadweep seas and also from Tuticorin, Keelakarai and Mandapam along the south-east-coast of India during 2000-2002. The studies on these three genera revealed variation of colour pattern in fishes collected from south-east coast as well as from Minicoy. Parabalistes Bleeker, 1866 which was earlier considered to be a synonym of genus Pseudobalistes has been resurrected as a valid genus. Two species of genus Balistoides and one species each of Pseudobalistes and Parabalistes reported and redescribed in the present study from the Indian seas are Balistoides viridescens (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Ruppell, 1828) and Parabalistes fuscus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)

Taxonomy of the Ocean triggerfish, Canthidermis maculata (Tetradontiformes, Balistidae) from the Indian coast

The collection and analysis of fishes of the genus Canthidermis done during 2000-2002. The results revealed high intraspecific colour variation among the samples collected from different localities. Canthidermis maculata from Indian seas is redescribed with new characters and examined the status of synonyms of the species. The regression analysis using data of various morphometric measurements on standard lengths revealed a low relationship and significant, suggesting that C. maculata showed high degree of variability in morphological characters. The examination reveals that C. willughbeii (Lay and Bennett, 1839), C. rotundatus (Proce, 1822), C. villosus Fedoryako, 1981 are junior synonym of C. maculata (Bloch, 1786)

Taxonomy of fishes of the family Balistidae in India

Exploitation of marine living resources for food is an age-old practice but this exploitation was largely restricted to near shore regions in the sea. The improvements in the capabilities of exploitation during the past half a century have helped in increasing harvests of living resources from the coastal waters as well as deeper regions of the sea. The rapid increase in the human population and the consequent increased demand for protein-rich seafood, have led to the exploitation of marine fisheries resources to their optimum levels in most cases. Fisheries resources being renewable, managing them on a sound scientific basis is essential to harvest maximum sustainable economic yields on a continual basis, year after year. The basis for such a management is knowledge of the dynamics of every species that contribute to the fishery. The tropical seas, however, unlike their counterparts in the temperate regions, are inhabited by a large number of species. In many cases the species live together sharing the same habitat and food. Several families are represented by several genera and several closely resembling species and any non-selective (or the least selective) gear exploits a large number of species in one haul

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Not AvailableThe collection and analysis of fishes of the genus Canthidermis done during 2000-2002. The results revealed high intraspecific colour variation among the samples collected from different localities. Canthidermis maculata from Indian seas is redescribed with new characters and examined the status of synonyms of the species. The regression analysis using data of various morphometric measurements on standard lengths revealed a low relationship and significant, suggesting that C. maculata showed high degree of variability in morphological characters. The examination reveals that C. willughbeii (Lay and Bennett, 1839), C. rotundatus (Proce, 1822), C. villosus Fedoryako, 1981 are junior synonym of C. maculata (Bloch, 1786).Not Availabl

Taxonomy of Fishes of the Family Balistidae in India

The fishes of the family Balistidae are popularly known as trigger fishes and distributed along the Indian and the Pacific Oceans, though certain species are restricted to particular regions. In India, these fishes are abundant in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, off Maharashtra and Gujarat coast, off Kerala, Andaman and Lakshadweep Islands. The recent trend in exploitation for human consumption and export and the fast increasing demand for these fishes in live condition for aquarium purpose warrant knowledge on taxonomy and distribution in space and time of the individual species for formulating strategies for sustaining yields and addressing the issues of biodiversity conservation. They feed mainly on zooplankton, molluscs, sponges and other associated fauna and the schooling behaviour is directly correlated to its grazing and grabbing nature. Added to this balistids have preference to coral reef habitat for feeding during their younger stages. The coral reefs and sand beds along the coast serve as the feeding ground for them and juveniles migrate to these grounds for feeding. It is also to be noted that trawl catch was constituted exclusively by 8-32 cm fishes, with total absence of small juveniles and mature fishes. Descriptions of the species of the genera viz. Abalistes, Balistapus, Zenodon, Canthidermis, Melichthys, Pseudobalistes, Parabalistes, Rhinecanthus and Sufflamen were don

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Not AvailableFish samples under the the three genera Balistoides, Pseudobalistes and Parabalistes of the family Balistidae were collected from Kalpeni, Minicoy and Agatti islands of Lakshadweep seas and also from Tuticorin, Keelakarai and Mandapam along the south-east-coast of India during 2000-2002. The studies on these three genera revealed variation of colour pattern in fishes collected from south-east coast as well as from Minicoy. Parabalistes Bleeker, 1866 which was earlier considered to be a synonym of genus Pseudobalistes has been resurrected as a valid genus. Two species of genus Balistoides and one species each of Pseudobalistes and Parabalistes reported and redescribed in the present study from the Indian seas are Balistoides viridescens (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Balistoides conspicillum (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus (Ruppell, 1828) and Parabalistes fuscus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801).Not Availabl