First record of a rare sand whiting, Sillago caudicula (Perciformes: Sillaginidae), from Madagascar

Abstract

Seven specimens (106–180 mm in standard length) of the sand whiting Sillago caudicula Kaga, Imamura & Nakaya, 2010 previously known only from the type specimens from Oman, were collected from the southeast coast of Madagascar. These new specimens represent the first record of the species from Madagascar and the southern hemisphere. Comparisons in meristic and morphometric characters with the four type specimens from Oman, as well as with the five other species in the subgenus Sillago, allowed their clear identification using the following combination of characters: small head (28.6–30.1% SL), 35–36 total vertebrae, fused or narrowly separated first and second hypurals, fused third and fourth hypurals, and 9–11 dusky spots on midline of body.

Keywords:

• Sand whiting
• Sillaginidae
• Sillago (Sillago) caudicula
• distribution
• Madagascar

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

Acknowledgements

The specimens were collected by Phil and Elaine Heemstra (SAIAB) and Thomas Razafimanambina (University of Toliara, Madagascar) on the Atimo Vatae expedition to South Madagascar. This expedition (Principal Investigator, Philippe Bouchet, MNHN) was a joint initiative of Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN) and Pro Natura International (PNI) in partnership with Institut d'Halieutique et des Sciences Marines, University of Toliara (IH.SM), the Madagascar Bureau of Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and with support from the Total, Prince Albert II and Niarchos Foundations. We thank Mark Lisher and Willem Coetzer (SAIAB) for technical assistance. Support from the National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa is gratefully acknowledged.

Notes

Published in collaboration with the University of Bergen and the Institute of Marine Research, Norway, and the Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Copenhagen, Denmark