<b>A first record of the Bentfin Devil Ray <I>Mobula thurstoni</I> (Lloyd, 1908) (Myliobatiformes: Mobulidae) from the Indian EEZ of the Andaman Sea</b>

Abstract

This manuscript deals with the Bent-fin Devil Ray Mobula thurstoni for its first time occurrence in the Andaman &amp; Nicobar waters around the Indian EEZ which is a new locality record confirming the range extension of the species to the southeast of Bay of Bengal (the Andaman Sea). A female specimen of 318mm disc length and weighing 2.47Kg was caught by a multiday bottom trawler operated off North Bay and was landed at Junglighat fishing harbour, South Andaman. A detailed diagnostic description and morphometric measurements of M. thurstoni is provided. For the first time this species has been described from Indian waters and compared with the other related species, and so documenting its first occurrence in the Andaman &amp; Nicobar waters.

First report of four deep-sea chondrichthyans (Elasmobranchii and Holocephali) from Andaman waters, India with an updated checklist from the region

“…More extensive taxonomic studies are needed for better management, planning, and understanding this diverse ecosystem. (Lloyd, 1908) NT Shirke et al 2017 MUS.FSI.PB/EB/09/2016 IUCN = IUCN global conservation status, N/C = needs confirmation, Q = questionable; LC = least concern, DD = data deficient, CR = critically endangered, EN = endangered, VU = vulnerable, NT = near threatened, NE = not evaluated.…”

Fifteen new records of Batoids (Elasmobranchii) from waters off Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

“…Dorsal profile black to greyish brown; dorsal fin plain; ventral surface is white (Last et al, 2016). (Rao, 2003;Rajan et al, 2012;Shirke et al, 2017). M. kuhlii was hitherto not known from the region.…”

“…The recent marine fish faunal studies from the Islands (Kumar et al, 2015(Kumar et al, , 2016(Kumar et al, , 2018Pradeep et al, 2016Pradeep et al, , 2017Pradeep et al, , 2018Vinu et al, 2017;Shirke et al, 2017;Tyabji et al, 2018) Fifteen new records of Batoids (Elasmobranchii) from waters off Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India recorded higher diversity in the landings and exploratory surveys. These studies will support future fisheries management in the Islands and improve India's compliance to Convention of Biodiversity (CBD) in documenting its fauna.…”