New Records of the Goatfish, Upeneus Vittatus (Forsskal 1775) and Upeneus Supravittatus (Uiblein and Heemstra 2010) (Preciformes, Mullidae), From Saint Martin’s Island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Abstract

Genus Upeneus distributed in Indo-Pacific, South Africa, north to southern Japan and south to New Caledonia. Although there is difficulty in identifying accurately goatfish solely on the basis of morphology, U. vittatus and U. supravittatus were confirmed by both using morphological characters and DNA barcoding cytochrome oxidase I subunit (COI) approach for the first time in St. Martin's Island, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. Increased number of species of the genus Upeneus was found in Bangladesh from 3 to 5 and extended the distribution range.