New Record and Range Extension of the Orange Scorpionfish, Neomerinthe amplisquamiceps (Scorpaenidae), in the Coastal Waters of Visakhapatnam, India

In this paper, we report finding of 74 specimens of Neomerinthe amplisquamiceps (Scorpaendiae) and field observations of this species from the Indian coast. Specimens of N. amplisquamiceps were captured between 150 and 300 m depth with a 38 m high speed demersal trawl (crustacean version, codend, mesh size 40 mm) and 46 m Expo model demersal trawl (mesh size 30 mm). This rare, poorly known species is the only member of the genus Neomerinthe in the Indian ichthyofauna. The new records improve the current knowledge on N. amplisquamiceps , and refine the limits of its geographical distribution and habitat preference. Analyses of morphometric and meristic characters confirmed the identity of the specimens and are described, compared and summarized.