On the occurrence of band fish, <i>Acanthocepola indica</i> (Day, 1988) (Perciformes: Cepolidae) in coastal waters of South West coast of Maharashtra, India

Band fishes also known as deep-sea snake fishes have not been reported from the waters of the Southwest coast of Konkan, Maharashtra, India. A specimen of this fish was collected from a multiday purse seiner, operated off the Southwest coast of India, and landed at Mirkarwada Fisheries harbour, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra in January 2024, for the first time. The fish was taxonomically identified as Acanthocepola indica (Day, 1888), belonging to Family Cepolidae based on its morphometric and meristic characteristics. The bright red fish had 97 dorsal; 85 anal; 20 Pectoral and 6 pelvic fin rays. The gill rakers in the anterior-most gill were 14+33; gill filaments were 96. The Total Length (TL) was 189 mm.