Rec. zool. Surv.

India: 107(Part-1) : 71-80, 2007

ON A COLLECTION OF FISHES FROM THE MAL VAN MARINE

SANCTUARY, MALVAN, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

R. P. BARMAN, P. MUKHERJEE AND A. DAS

Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata

INTRODUCTION

The Malvan coastal belt of Maharashtra has been declared as Malvan Marine Sanctuary only
recently. This sanctuary is rich in marine flora and fauna especially the coral life and mangroves.
A perusal of the existing literature shows that the ichthyofaunal resources of this sanctuary has not
documented yet. Hence, an attempt was made to evaluate the fish resources of this sanctuary. Two
faunistic surveys were undertaken for the assessment of the Marine fish faunal resources of the
Malvan sanctuary in the months of September 2004 and October 2005. These surveys have resulted
in enlisting 108 species of fishes belonging to 48 families and 13 orders. This study has also
revealed the occurrence of 4 vulnerable and 2 near threatesed species in this Malvan Marine
Sanctuary. Common English names of the species have been provided along with the scientific
names of the species.

STUDY AREA

The Malvan Marine Sanctuary is located in Malvan Taluka of Sindhudurg district in Konkan
Region along the Maharashtra coast between 16°15'-16°50' N latitude and 73°27'-73°31' E
longitude. It covers an area of 29.22 sq km. This costal line is indented with creeks and bays.
Kolam, Kalabati and Karli and the prominent creeks of this sanctuary. This region is free from
pollution and harbours a wide variety of flora and fauna. The flora components of this region are
mainly mangroves and sea grasses. Several species of marine algae are found in this region. Sand
dune vegetation is also found very rich here. Mangrove species like Rhizophora mucronata,
Avicennia officina lis and Excoecaria sp. flourish well here. It has been observed that among its
faunal coposition several species of sponges, sea fans, soft and hard corals, sea anemones thrive
well in this sanctuary. Live pearl oyster and red coral are also found here. The sanctuary also
includes turtle nesting grounds. The Malvan Marine sanctuary and its surrounding area support a
72 Rec. zool. Surv. India

commercial trawl fishery. The Sindhdurg fort, built by Shivaji Maharaj is situated in this sanctuary
and is considered as one of the main attraction of Malvan. It is one of the very few relatively
undisturbed locations along the western coast of India. The nearest major city is Mumbai, about
400 kilometers away.

LIST OF THE FISHES OF THE MALVAN SANCTUARY

Class CHONDRICHTHYES
Order 1. ORECTOLOBIFORMES
Family 1. HEMISCYLLIIDAE
(Bamboo sharks)
1. Chiloscyllium griseum Muller & Henle (Grey bamboo shark) (Near threatened)

Order 2. CARCHARHINIFORMES
Family 2. CARCHARHINIDAE
(Requiem sharks)
2. Scoliodon laticaudus (Muller & Henle) (Spade nose shark) (Near threatened)

Class OSTEICHTHYES
Order 3. ANGUILLIFORMES
Family 3. OPHICHTHIDAE
(Snake eels)
3. Neenchelys buitendijki (Weber and deBeufort) (Fintail serpent eel)
4. Ophichthus apicalis (Bennett) (Bluntnose snake-eel)

Family 4. MURAENESOCIDAE
(Pike congers)
5. Congresox talabonoides (Bleeker) (Indian pike conger) (Vulnerable species)
6. Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskal) (Daggertooth pike conger) (Vulnerable species)

Order 4. CL UPEIFORMES
Family 5. CL UPEIDAE
(Herrings, shads, sardines)
7. Amblygaster clupeoides Bleeker (Bleeker's smooth belly sardinella)
8. Hilsa kelee (Cuvier) (Kelee shad)
9. Nematolosa nasus (Bloch) (Bloch's gizzard shad)
10. Pellona ditch ella Valenciennes (Indian pellona)
11. Sardinella melaneura (Cuvier) (Black tip sardinella)
12. S. longiceps Valenciennes (Indian oil sardine)
13. Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton) (Hilsa shad) (Vulnerable species)
BARMAN et al. : On a collection of fishes from the Malvan Marine Sanctuary .. .India 73

Family 6. PRISTIGASTERIDAE
(Pristigasterids)
14. Opisthopterus tardoore (Cuvier) (Tardoore)
15. llisha melastoma (Bloch & Schneider) (Indian ilisha)

Family 7. ENGRAULIDIDAE
(Anchovies)
16. Stolephorus indicus (van Hasselt) (Indian anchovy)
17. Thryssa hamilton;; (Gray) (Hamilton's thryssa)
18. Thryssa dussumieri (Valenciennes) (Dussumier's thryssa)
19. T. malabarica Bloch (Malabara thryssa)
20. Thryssa mystax (Hamilton) (Moustached thryssa)
21. T. setirostris (Broussonet) (Longjaw thryssa)

Family 8. CHIROCENTRIDAE
(Wolf herrings)
22. Chirocentrus dorab (Forsskal) (Dorab wolf-herring)

Order 5. SIL URIFORMES

Family 9. BAGRIDAE
(Bagrid catfishes)
23. Mystus gulio (Hamilton) (Long-whiskered catfish)

Family 10. ARIIDAE

(Sea catfishes)
24. Arius maculatus (Thunberg) (Spotted catfish)
25. A. platystomus Day (Flatmouth sea catfish)
26. A. thalassinus (Ruppell) (Giant sea catfish) (Vulnerable species)

Family 11. PLOTOSIDAE

(Eeltail catfishes)
27. Plotosus canius (Grey eel-catfish)

Order 6. AULOPIFORMES
Family 12. HARPADONTIDAE
(Bombay duck)
28. Harpadon nehereus (Hamilton) (Bombay duck)

Family 13. SYNODIDAE

(Lizardfishes)
29. Saurida tumbil (Bloch) (Greater lizardfish)
74 Rec. zool. Surv. India

Order 7. GADIFORMES
Family 14. BREGMACEROTIDAE
(Codlets)
30. Bregmaceros mcclellandii Thompson (Spotted codlet)

Order 8. MUGILIFORMES
Family 15. MUGILIDAE
(Mullets)
31. Liza tade (Forsskal) (Tade mullet)
32. MugU cephalus Linnaeus (Flathead mullet)

Order 9. BELONIFORMES
Family 16. HEMIRAMPHIDAE
(Halfbeaks)
33. Hemiramphus archipelagicus Collette (Jumping halfbeak)
34. H. far (Forsskal) (Blackbarred halfbeak)
35. H. lutkei (Valenciennes) (Lutke's halfbeak)

Order 10. SCORP AENIFORMES

Family 17. PLATYCEPHALIDAE
(Flatheads)
36. Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus) (Bartail flathead)

Order 11. PERCIFORMES

Family 18. CENTROPOMIDAE
(Snooks)
37. Lates calcarifer (Bloch) (Barramundi)

Family 19. SERRANIDAE

(Groupers)
38. Epinephelus bleekeri (Forskkal) (Dusky tail grouper)

Family 20. TERAPONIDAE

(Terapons)
39. Terapon jarbua (Forsskal) (Jerbua terapon)
40. T. theraps Cuvier (Largescaled therapon)

Family 21. APOGONIDAE

(Cardinalfishes)
41. Apogon thermalis Cuvier (Half-barred cardinal)
BARMAN et al. : On a collection of fishes from the Malvan Marine Sanctuary .. .India 75

Family 22. SILLAGINIDAE

(Smelt -whitings)
42. Sillago sihama (Forsskal) (Silver sillago)
Family 23. CARANGIDAE
(J acks, Kingfishes and pompanos)
43. Alepes ciliaris (Bloch) (African pompano)
44. A. djedaba (Forsskal) (Shrimp scad)
45. A. klein;; (Bloch) (Razor belly scad)
46. Atropus atropos (Schneider) (Cleftbelly trevally)
47. Caranx carangus (Bloch) (Crevalle jack)
48. C. ignobilis (Forsskal) (Giant trevally)
49. C. sexfasciatus Quoy & Gaimard (Bigeye trevally)
50. Decapterus russelli (Ruppell) (Indian scad)
51. Gnathonodon speciosus (Forsskal) (Golden trevally)
52. Megalaspis cordyla (Linnaeus) (Torpedo scad)
53. Naucrates ductor Linnaeus (Pilotfish)
54. Parastromus niger (Bloch) (Black pomfret)
55. Scomberoides lysan (Forsskal) (Double-spotted queenfish)
56. S. tol (Cuvier) (Needle scaled queenfish)
57. Trachinotus bloch;; (Lacepede) (Largespotted dart)
Family 24. CORYPHAENIDAE
(Dolphin fish)
58. Coryphaena hippurus (Common dolphin fish)
Family 25. LEIOGNATHIDAE
(Slipmouths or ponyfishes)
59. Gazza minuta (Bloch) (Toothpony)
60. Leiognathus bindus (Valenciennes) (Orangefin ponyfish)
61. L. brevirostris (Valenciennes) (Shortnose ponyfish)
62. L. daura (Cuvier) (Goldstripe ponyfish)
63. L. equulus (Forsskal) (Common ponyfish)
64. Secutor insidiator (Bloch) (Pugnose ponyfish)
Family 26. LUTJANIDAE
(Snappers)
65. Lutjanus argentimaculatus (Forsskal) (River snapper)
66. L. john;; (Bloch) (John's snapper)
67. L. russellii Bleeker (Red snapper)
76 Rec. zool. Surv. India

Family 27. GERREIDAE

(Mojarras)
68. Gerres erythrourus (Bloch) (Deep bodied mojarras)
69. G. limbatus Cuvier (Saddleback silver-biddy)
70. G. macracanthus Bleeker (Long rayed mojarra)

Family 28. HAEMULIDAE

(Grunts)
71. Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier) (Javelin grunter)
72. P. maculatus (Bloch) (Saddle grunt)

Family 29. NEMIPTERIDAE

(Threadfin breams, Whip tail breams)
73. Nemipterus japonicus (Bloch) (Japanese threadfin bream)

Family 30. SCIAENIDAE

(Drums or croakers)
74. Chrysochir aureus (Richardson) (Reeve's croaker)
75. lahnius carutta (Bloch) (Karut croaker)
76. Otolithes rubber (Schneider) (Tiger-toothed croaker)

Family 31. MULLIDAE

(Goatfishes)
77. Upeneus vittatus (Forsskal) (Yellowstriped goatfish)

Family 32. MONODACTYLIDAE

(Moonyfishes or fingerfishes)
78. Monodactylus argenteus (Linnaeus) (Silvery moony)

Family 33. PEMPHERIDIDAE

(Sweepers)
79. Pempheris vanicolensis Cuvier (Vanikoro sweeper)

Family 34. SCATOPHAGIDAE

(Spotted scat)
80. Scatophagus argus (Bloch) (Spotted scat)

Family 35. CICHLIDAE

(Cichlids)
81. Etrophus suratensis (Bloch) (Green chromide)

Family 36. SPHYRAENIDAE

(Barracuda)
82. Sphyraena jella Cuvier (Pickhandle barracuda)
BARMAN et al. : On a collection of fishes from the Malvan Marine Sanctuary .. .India 77

Family 37. POL YNYMIDAE

(Threadfins)
83. Eleutheronema tatradactylum (Shaw) (Fourfinger threadfin)
84. Filimanus xanthonema (Valenciennes) (Yellowthread threadfin)
85. Polydactylus mullani (Hora) (Spotted Sevenfinger threadfin)
Family 38. GOBIIDAE
(Gobies)
86. Caragobius urolepis (Bleeker) (Scaleless worm goby)
87. Odontamblyopus rubicundus (Hamilton) (Rubicundus eelgoby)
Family 39. TRYPAUCHENIDAE
(Burrowing goby)
88. Trypauchen vagina (Bloch) (Burrowing goby)
Family 40. SIGANIDAE
(Rabbitfishes)
89. Siganus canaliculatus (Park) (White-spotted spinefoot)
Family 41. TRICHIURIDAE
(Cutlassfishes)
90. Lepturacanthus pantului (Gupta) (Coromandal ribbonfish)
Family 42. SCOMBRIDAE
(Mackerels, tunas, bonitos)
91. Auxis thazard (Lacepede) (Frigate tuna)
92. Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier) (Indian mackerel)
93. Scomberomorus commerson (Lacepede) (Narrow-barred Spanish mackerel)
94. S. guttatus (Bloch & Schneider) (Indo-Pacific king mackerel)
95. Scomberoides tol (Cuvier) (Needlescaled queenfish)
96. Thunnus albacares (Bonnaterre) (Yellowfin tuna)
97. T. tonggol (Bleeker) (Longtail tuna)
Family 43. STROMATEIDAE
(Pomp fret)
98. Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen) (Silver pompfret)
99. P. chinensis (Euphrasen) (Chinese silver pomfret)

Order 12. PLEURONECTIFORMES

Family 44. PARALICHTHYIDAE
(Large-tooth flounders)
100. Pseudorhombus javanicus (Bleeker) (Javan flounder)
101. P. triocellatus (Schneider) (Three spotted flounder)
78 Rec. zool. Surv. India

Family 45. CYNOGLOSSIDAE

(Tongue fishes )
102. Cynoglossus puncticeps (Richardson) (Speckled tongesole)

Family 46. SOLEIDAE

(Soles)
103. Solea ovata Richardson (Ovate sole)
104. Synaptura albomaculata Kaup (Kaup's sole)

Order 13. TETRAODONTIFORMES

Family 47. TETRAODONTIDAE
(Puffers)
105. Lagocephalus inermis (Schneider) (Smooth-backed blowfish)
106. Torquigener hypselogenion (Bleeker) (Orange-spotted toadfish)

Family 48. DIODONTIDAE

(Porcupinefishes)
107. Diodon hystrix Lacepede (Spot-fin porcupinefish)
108. D. holocanthus Lacepede (Long spine porcupinefish)

DISCUSSIONS

The present study has recorded 108 species belonging to 48 families in 13 orders in Malvan
Marine Sanctuary.

Analysis of these 108 species shows that it contains 4 vulnerable species viz. Congresox
talabonoides, Muraenesox cinereus, Tenualosa ilisha and Arius thalassinus and two near threatened
species viz. Chiloscyllium griseum and Scalioton laticaudus. It also contains some important
commercial food fishes. The fishes of the family Carangidae form the dominating group consisting
of 15 species among the important food fishes. The fishes of the family Scombridae and Clupeidae
represented by 7 species each followed by Leiognathidae and Engraulidae represented by 6 species
each.

Malvan Marine Sanctuary is the only Marine Sanctuary in Maharashtra. The sanctuary is rich
in coral and marine life in addition to the mangroves. The creation of Marine Biosphere Reserves
has increased due to the natural changes and human depredation in many coastal area. Several
ecologically important species of plant and animal have been extinct and whatever remains, urgently
need for conservation measures. This has necessitated for the declaration of the sanctuaries for the
conservation and protection of the marine wild life. Since Malvan Marine Sanctuary contains four
vulnerable fish species and two near threatened species in addition to the coral life and mangroves
BARMAN et al. : On a collection of fishes from the Malvan Marine Sanctuary .. .India 79

the declaration of the Malvan coast as Marine Sanctuary recently is justified and it needs urgent
legal protection.

SUMMARY

The samples of fishes collected during the surveys conducted during September 2004 and
October 2005 have been examined and determined with the help of standard literature (Collette,
B.B. and Neun, c.E. 1983, Day, 1875-78; de Bruin et al., 1995; Fischer and Bianchi, 1984; Talwar,
1995; Talwar and lhingran, 1991; Talwar and Kacker, 1984; Whitehead, P.l.P., 1985; Whitehead,
P.l.P., Nelson, l. and Wongratana, T., 1988). In all, 110 species belonging to 48 families under 13
orders have been recorded from this sanctuary and the same is enlisted here under.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are thankful to Dr. l.R.B. Alfred, the Director, and Shri A.K. Singh, Joint Director,
Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata for the facilities and encouragement. They are also thankful
to the Director of Fisheries, Govt. of Maharashtra and the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Malvan,
Sindhudurgh for their cooperation during the course of the field survey along the Malvan coastal
line. The authors also want to keep a record of their thankfulness to Dr. S.K. Chakraborty, Principal
Scientist of Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Versova, and Mumbai for his assistance and
cooperation required during this study.

REFERENCES

Day, F. 1875-78 (1888). The fishes of India, being a Natural History of the fishes know to inhabit
the seas and freshwater of India, Burma and Ceylon. London. Part 1, 1875 : 1-168, 1-40 pIs.;
Part 2, 1876 : 169-368,41-78 pIs. (+51 A-C); Part 3, 1877 : 369-552, 70-138 pIs.; Part 4,
1878 : i-xx + 553-778, 139-195 pIs.; Suppl., 1888 : 779-816, 7 figs.
DeBruin, G.H.P .. Russell, B.C. and Bogusch, A. 1995. FAO Species identification field guide for
fishery purposes. The Marine fishery resources of Sri Lanka. FAO, Rome: 400 p. 32 pIs.
Fischer, W. and Bianchi, G. (eds.) 1984. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes.
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Talwar, P.K. and lhingran, A.G. 1991. Inland Fishes of India and adjacent countries. New Delhi,
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Talwar, P.K. and Kacker, R.K. 1984. The Commercial Sea fishes of India. Handbook. Zoological
survey of India, Govt. of India, (4) : 997 pp.
80 Rec. zool. Surv. India

Collette, B.B. and Neun, C.E. 1983. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 2. Scombrids of the world. An
annotated and illustrated catalogue of tunas, mackerels, bonitos and related species known
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herrings. Part 1. Chirocentridae, Clupeidae and Pristigasteridae. FAG Fis. Synop., (125)
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Whitehead, P.l.P., Nelson, l. and Wongratana, T. 1988. FAO species catalogue. Vol. 7. Clupeoid
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herrings, sardines, pilchards sparts shades, anchovies and wolf-herrings. Part 2. Engraulididae.
FAG Fish. Synop., (125) 7 (2) : 305-579.