Pseudorhombus bahudaensis, Acharya & Behera & Mohanty & Ray & Patro & Mishra & Mohapatra, 2025

Acharya, Smrutirekha, Behera, Rajesh Kumar, Mohanty, Swarup Ranjan, Ray, Dipanjan, Patro, Shesdev, Mishra, Subhrendu Sekhar & Mohapatra, Anil, 2025, Resolving the Pseudorhombus arsius cryptic species complex (Teleostei, Paralichthyidae): phylogenetic evidence and description of Pseudorhombus bahudaensis sp. nov., Zootaxa 5711 (3), pp. 381-397 : 386-387

Pseudorhombus bahudaensis sp. nov.

Common name: Bahuda large tooth flounder

Holotype: ZSI/ EBRC / F17544 (1: 187 mm TL), Bahuda estuary, Odisha, 19.11906944 N 84.79039444 E, coll. by Anil Mohapatra and Party , 26 Oct. 2022.

Paratypes: ZSI/ EBRC / F17545 (1: 165 mm TL), Bahuda estuary, Odisha, 19.11906944 N 84.79039444 E, coll. by Anil Mohapatra and Party , 14 Nov. 2023 ; ZSI/ EBRC / F17546 (1: 151 mm TL), Bahuda estuary, Odisha, 19.11906944 N 84.79039444 E, coll. by Anil Mohapatra and Party , 29 Dec. 2023 ; ZSI/ EBRC / F17547 (1: 251 mm TL), Gopalpur fish landing centre, Odisha, 19.26388889 N 84.91694444 E, coll. by Smrutirekha Acharya and Rajesh Kumar Behera , 24 Mar. 2024 .

Nontypes: ZSI/ EBRC / F17656 (18: 165 mm TL), Bahuda estuary, Odisha, 19.11906944 N 84.79039444 E, coll. by Anil Mohapatra and Party , 14 Nov. 2023 ; ZSI/ EBRC / F17548 (1: 165 mm TL), Penthakata (Puri), Odisha 19.801590 N, 85.851747 E, coll. by Anil Mohapatra and Party , 11 Dec. 2024 .

Etymology: The species is named after the type locality Bahuda estuary.Although the species has been found in Gopalpur and Penthakata (Puri) during a later stage of study, specimens of this cryptic species were first encountered in the Bahuda estuary. Thus, the specific epithet is coined as bahudaensis .

Diagnosis: The species can be diagnosed by having lateral line on both sides; ctenoid scales on the eyed side and cycloid scales on the blind side. The eyed side has two eye-like dark spots on the lateral line. Numerous greenish-white cloudy spots are visible in live condition. The teeth on lower jaw are 6–10 on blind side. The straight part of the lateral line extended forward; it passes through the upper eye. Total vertebrae: 36–37.

Description: Dorsal head profile notched in front of upper eye; ventral head profile with two clear knobs: one below symphysis and the other, behind the angle of mouth at mandible end where preopercle joins; both eyes are clearly separated by a narrow gap; the eyed side with ctenoid scales and the blind side with cycloid scales; two to four pairs of canine teeth present in upper jaw; teeth of upper jaw in close set; the lower jaw teeth with spaces and about 6–10; the maxilla reaches almost posterior edge of eye; body depth almost twice in the standard length 1.9–2.0 in SL; pre dorsal length 14.4–14.9 in SL; pre anal length 3.1–3.6 in SL; head length 3.1–3.6 in SL; gill rackers in lower arm 8–9 and in upper arm 4; dorsal fin rays 72–76; anal fin rays 56–57; pectoral fin rays on ocular side 12–13 and in blind side 11–12; pre-opercular scales 11–12; lateral line scales 74–81; total vertebrae 36–37. Details of body ratio and morpho-meristic are given in ( Table 1–2).

Colouration: The colouration of the species is quite similar to that of P. arsius . Abundant small melanophores are also visible in the eyed side along with dorsal, anal, caudal and pectoral fins.

Distribution: The species is distributed in the western Bay of Bengal. But from the whole study, it seems probable distribution in the Indo-Pacific region, but it can only be ascertained after the physical verification of those specimens.