A checklist on taxonomic diversity of order Tetraodontiformes (Actinopterygii) from Indian waters

Abstract

The present study compiles a comprehensive review of the taxonomic diversity of the order Tetraodontiformes in Indian waters. Members of this order primarily inhabit benthic and demersal ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions, where they play important ecological roles in structuring benthic communities. Several species are known for their potent neurotoxins, while others are valued for their nutritional, medicinal, and ornamental significance. Their ecological niche makes them particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures and climate-induced environmental changes, underscoring the importance of systematic documentation and long-term monitoring. Based on published literature, this study records 121 species of Tetraodontiformes from Indian waters, representing 55 genera across eight families. This accounts for approximately 28% of the 433 species globally recognized under 104 genera and 10 families. The most represented families in India include Tetraodontidae, Monacanthidae, Balistidae, Diodontidae, Triacanthidae, and Ostraciidae. Among the Indian marine regions, higher number of species were recorded from the southern Bay of Bengal and the Andaman waters. According to IUCN classifications, 94 species are listed as “Least Concern,” 20 as “Not Evaluated,” five as “Data Deficient,” and two species—Oxymonacanthus longirostris and Mola mola—as “Vulnerable.”