Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 December 2010
The occurrence of benthopelagic fish, Neobythites multistriatus, off Mangalore, India, in the Arabian Sea, which is hitherto not recorded from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of India, is reported. The results of the comparison of meristic and morphometric characters with the holotype and paratypes of the species are presented. Neobythites multistriatus is closely related to N. fasciatus in terms of two opercular spines and several vertical bars on body ending as ocelli or dark blotches on dorsal and anal fin. However, it differs from the latter by having 11–13 long rakers versus 8–10 and anterior ocellus in front of line versus posterior to line. The occurrence of this little known benthopelagic fish further adds to and strengthens the rich deep sea ichthyofaunal biodiversity of the EEZ of India, which is hitherto not fully known.