Taxonomic status of nominal species of the hair-fin anchovy genus Setipinna previously regarded as synonyms of Setipinna tenuifilis (Valenciennes, 1848) and Setipinna paxtoni Wongratana, 1987 (Teleostei: Clupeiformes: Engraulidae: Coiliinae)

Abstract Examination of the original descriptions and available type specimens of nominal species previously regarded as synonyms of Setipinna tenuifilis (Valenciennes, 1848) and Setipinna paxtoni Wongratana, 1987 and numerous non-type specimens collected from an extensive geographic range, supports the validities of S. tenuifilis , Setipinna gilberti Jordan & Starks, 1905, Setipinna papuensis Munro, 1964, and S. paxtoni . Based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene, each of these four species is genetically distinct to others, although S. tenuifilis and S. gilberti diverge from each other only by 1.7% mean uncorrected distance. Furthermore, taxonomic status of nominal species previously regarded as S. tenuifilis are assessed. Setipinna godavari Babu Rao, 1962, is herein regarded as a junior synonym of S. tenuifilis and Setipinna lighti Wu, 1929 and Pseudosetipinna haizhouensis Peng and Zhao, 1988 are newly recognized as a junior synonym of S. gilberti gilberti with neotype designation for S. godavari . Finally, Setipinna gilberti java ssp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from Java, Indonesia. The two subspecies S. g. java ssp. nov. and S. g. gilberti diverge from each other by 1% mean uncorrected COI-based distance.