Taxonomic clarification and re-description of two deep-sea roughies of genus Hoplostethus from the Indian Ocean

Two deep-sea roughies, Hoplostethus (Leiogaster) rubellopterus Kotlyar, 1980 and H. (L.) melanopus (Weber, 1913), are re-described based on several specimens collected from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. Some notes on the taxonomic status of these two species are also included, and their distributional ranges are updated. Hoplostethus (L.) rubellopterus is a commonly occurring species in the deep-sea catches from the upper continental slope (160-800 m) of this region, which is often misidentified and reported as H. mediterraneus Cuvier, 1829. Previous reports of H. mediterraneus from Indian waters were found to be misidentifications, and should be referred to H. (L.) rubellopterus. Hoplostethus (L.) melanopus is found to be distributed in much deeper waters at bathyal depths (> 900 m) of the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea.