taxonID	type	description	language	source
852EDB2EFFB8AA31BE8652406CDC8FCF.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis genera. The genus Otolithoides is distinguished from other Sciaenidae genera by the following combination of features: (1) swimbladder with one diverticulum on each side, attached near the posterior end; (2) vertebrae 12 + 13, with the third bearing a pair of ventral apophyses that do not meet below; (3) interorbital width 26 – 33 % of head length; (4) lateral line scales cycloid, usually covered with small subsidiary scales; (5) second anal spine weak; (6) sagitta with a large pouched “ head ” and a “ tail ” only slightly curved and ending in a disc; and (7) absence of predorsal bones (Trewavas, 1977).	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFB8AA31BE8652406CDC8FCF.taxon	discussion	Remarks on genus: The genus Pama (Fowler, 1933) is not recognized, as the generic diagnostic characters such as the swimbladder and sagitta type which of its type species, Otolithoides pama, are the same as those of Otolithoides biauritus. Examination of the syntypes and lectotypes of O. brunneus (Day) and O. biauritus (Cantor) confirmed that the former is a synonym of the latter (Talwar, 1995).	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	vernacular_names	(Common name: Pama Croaker; standard Malay name: Selampai Payau)	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	description	(Fig. 3 – 4, Table 5 – 6)	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined. Non-types: UMKL (3, 257.33 to 267.25 mm SL), Parit Tiram Muar River, Muar, Johor, Malaysia, 26 June 2019; UMTF 11527 (150.86 mm SL), Bagan Datuk, Perak, Malaysia, 19 January 2024; UMTF 11528 (214.84 mm SL), Muar Fish Market, Muar, Malaysia, 11 April 2025; UMTF 11529 (265.78 mm SL), Muar Fish Market, Muar, Malaysia, 11 April 2025; UMTF 11530 (313.34 mm SL), Muar Fish Market, Muar, Malaysia, 11 April 2025; USM (48) 00020 (5, 209.10 to 245.3 mm SL), Muar River, near Muar Bridge, Muar, Malaysia, 11 April 2025;.	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. A species of genus Otolithoides with the following combination of characters: a large species with a conical snout and large terminal mouth; eye diameter size small (9 to 11 % of HL); upper jaw reaching back beyond eye. Teeth well-differentiate enlarged in both jaws, with 1 or 2 pairs of canines in upper jaw. Lower gill rakers 10, long at join of arch, shorter in front. Dorsal fin with 10 spines, second part of the fin with 1 spine and 40 to 42 soft rays; the second anal spine short and weak; caudal fin pointed. Scales cycloid on head, elsewhere ctenoid; lateral line scales reaching to tip of caudal fin. Swimbladder carrot-shaped, with a single pair of appendages, arising from posterior end of bladder and running forward beside it enter head beneath the skull.	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	description	Description. Counts and measurements of the type specimens are shown in Table 5. The following data is provided for the Talwar (1995) measurement first as comparison, followed by the size range and mean for the following specimen vouchers. A large species with a fairly slender body with a conical snout; large terminal mouth, upper jaw reaching well beyond eye; eyes very small (9.4 – 11.4 % of HL); Interorbital (23.3 – 28.7 % of HL) region broad and conical; operculum with two flat weak spines; preopercle margin serrated, the serrations at its angle. No rostral pores; marginal pores 5, very small, at or under edge without notching it. Mental pores two pairs, minute, anterior pair on front of chin. Teeth well-differentiate enlarged in both jaws, with 1 or 2 pairs of canines in upper jaw and a tip of lower jaw. Lower gill rakers 10, long at joint of arch, shorter in front. Dorsal fin with 10 spines, followed by a low notch, second part of the fin with 1 spine and 40 to 42 soft fin rays; pectoral fin as long as or longer than head; anal fin with 2 spines and 7 soft rays, the 2 nd spine short and weak (11.8 – 16.1 % of HL); caudal fin pointed (very long and tapering in juveniles). Scales small and cycloid (smooth on head), elsewhere ctenoid (rough to touch), very small above anterior part of lateral line; lateral line scales reaching to tip of caudal fin, scale rows 12 above lateral line, while scale rows 14 below the lateral line. Swimbladder carrot-shaped with a single pair of appendages, arising from posterior end of bladder and running forward beside it to enter the head where they branch under the skull. Swimbladder (Fig. 7 a) carrot-shaped with a pair tubule originating near its posterior end and extending forwards into head, where they give off several branches. Otolith (sagitta) (Fig. 7 b) with a tadpole-shaped impression on its inner side, of which the ‘ head’ is heavily pouched and the ‘ tail’ is attached on its dorsal side and nearer the anterior end that the posterior, the ‘ tail’ is moderately deep and nearly straight. Color in fresh. light browning along the back and silvery-white on belly, with on distinctive markings, head shot with golden and purple. Fins yellowish, the purple half of dorsal fin gray.	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	distribution	Geographical distribution. India: Ganga River and Brahmaputra River and its estuaries; Burma: Sittang River; Sumatra; Guinea (Talwar, 1995); Peninsular Malaysia: Perak River and Muar River (this study). Inhabits coastal waters and enters estuaries and rivers to the upper tidal limit and beyond.	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
852EDB2EFFBBAA3EBE86573068778A8C.taxon	discussion	Remarks. Based on Sasaki (1996), Otolithoides pama is distributed from Pakistan (Karachi; Ahmad, 1971) to Burma. Fowler (1932) reported the species from Singapore, although the specimen has not been located. Mohan et al. (1972) and Mohan (1983) noted that O. pama occurs only in the Bay of Bengal and adjacent waters. In Malaysian waters, the species has often been misidentified or synonymized under the names Panna microdon or Otolithoides biauritus (Sasaki, 2001; Table 6). The present study (Fig. 5) provides new specimen-based records from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, specifically from Bagan Datuk, Perak, and Muar, Johor. Sasaki (2022) previously documented collections from the western Indian Ocean, particularly the Bay of Bengal. The extended distributional evidence presented here therefore suggests that populations of O. pama may now be established in Malaysian waters. Based on Trewavas (1977), juveniles and early stages of Otolithoides pama have been reported year-round in the coastal waters off Orissa, and in all months except during the flood season (July – September) at Barrackpore, approximately 125 miles inland. Further upstream in the Hooghly River, the species occurs in progressively smaller numbers, extending as far as the tidal influence reaches. Pantulu and Jones (1951) observed that the species becomes very rare about 170 miles from the sea and is nearly absent at the highest tidal limits of the Hooghly, such as Mokema Ghat, Dighwara, and Buxar on the Ganges, as well as Khaghari on the Burhi Gandak. These findings, particularly during the monsoon months, suggest that O. pama is capable of breeding in both freshwater and marine environments.	en	Hanafi, Norhafiz, Ilham-Norhakim, Mohd Lokman, Halim, Muhammad-Rasul Abdullah, Chang, Chih-Wei, Seah, Ying Giat (2025): First specimen-based record and preliminary assessment of the fisheries status of Otolithoides pama (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sciaenidae) from the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Strait of Malacca. Zootaxa 5738 (1): 73-88, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5738.1.12
