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Issue: Vol. 5706 No. 3: 13 Oct. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-10-13
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.7
Page range: 439-447
Abstract views: 163
PDF downloaded: 4

Unusual pigmentation and morphological variations in four flatfish species (Order: Pleuronectiformes) from Indian waters

Marine Fish Section; Zoological Survey of India; Kolkata; West Bengal; 700016; India
Marine Fish Section; Zoological Survey of India; Kolkata; West Bengal; 700016; India
Amity University; Sector-125; Noida—201313; Uttar Pradesh; India
Amity University; Sector-125; Noida—201313; Uttar Pradesh; India
Pisces Unusual pigmentation morphological anomaly Cynoglossus arel Cynoglossus lingua India Dagetichthys commersonnii Pseudorhombus triocellatus

Abstract

This study reports the first record of unusual pigmentation and morphological anomalies in four flatfish species, Cynoglossus arel, C. lingua, Dagetichthys commersonnii, and Pseudorhombus triocellatus, collected from Indian waters. Unusual pigmentation included ambicolouration in C. arel and D. commersonnii. Morphological anomalies such as fin cuts, caudal deformities, accessory fins, and vertebral fusion were observed in C. arel, C. lingua, and P. triocellatus. These anomalies may indicate developmental stress or environmental disturbance, potentially affecting individual fitness and survival because functional morphology influences ecological performance. Comprehensive, multidisciplinary research is essential to identify specific causes, assess ecological consequences, and prepare conservation strategies.

 

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How to Cite

Dutta, S., Pillai, H.U., Das, S. & Ojha, S. (2025) Unusual pigmentation and morphological variations in four flatfish species (Order: Pleuronectiformes) from Indian waters. Zootaxa, 5706 (3), 439–447. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5706.3.7