On a record of Callionymus schaapi Bleeker (Callionymidae : Pisces) from Indian Coast

Abstract

According to Day (1878) the family Callionymidae is represented in Indian waters by six species viz., Callionymus longicaudatus, C. sagitta, C. fluviatilis, C. lineolatus, Corientalis and C. opercularis. While examining the fish collected on 9th February, 1965 from a tide pool formed in the low lying area near Mandapam (Pak Bay, 09" 17'N. and 79" 06'E.) as a result of the cylone and tidal wave in December 1964, the author came across two male specimens of Callionyrnus schaapi Bleeker both measuring 77 mm. which is the first record of this species from Indian coast (Fig. I). C. schaapi has so far been recorded from Singapore, Pulu Weh, Banka, Java, Celebes (Makassar), Sumbawa, Formosa and Philippines (de Beaufort, 1951). The species of Callionymus are known to live in sandy areas in shallow water in sea, best sought by sieving the sand