First record of the speckled Maori wrasse, Oxycheilinus arenatus (Valenciennes, 1840) (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Labridae), from Indian coastal waters

Abstract

The labrid fish species Oxycheilinus arenatus (Valenciennes, 1840) is recorded for the first time from India’s southeast coast. A total of three specimens were collected as trawl bycatch at Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, southeast coast of India, in December 2021. The standard length of the specimens ranged from 15.42 to 19.5 cm SL. The presently reported finding of this species from the southeastern coast of India expands and confirms the known distribution range of O. arenatus, which was previously not known from India.