New Geographical Record of the Moray Eel Gymnothorax reticularis, Bloch, 1795 (Anguilliformes: Muraenidae) with Taxonomic Status and Distribution from Southwest Coast of India

In this study, the first record of Gymnothorax reticularis for the Southwest coast of India was reported from the Mangalore Fishing Harbour (MFH). The morphometric, meristic characters and colour patterns of the recorded specimens confirmed that the identified specimen was G. reticularis and it has 18 dark bars with pale cream coloured background. The unique key characters of G. reticularis having 114 vertebrae, the teeth patterns of maxillary and vomerine was counted as each 10 and dentary teeth was 14, whilst there is no inter maxillary teeth. The maxillary and dentary teeth were canine, whereas molar shape of teeth was found in vomerine. The occurrence of G. reticularis in southwest coast of India revealed the range of extension of its known geographical distribution. Further, the present study is an addition to the ichthyofaunal biodiversity of southwest coast of India.