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Ablennes gracalii Thomas & Abdussamad, 2024 |
| Family: | Belonidae (Needlefishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 69 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 50 m | |||
| Distribution: | Eastern Indian Ocean: India | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal soft rays (total): 24-25; Anal soft rays: 26-28; Vertebrae: 91-92. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: body is elongated and laterally compressed with relatively short head, comparatively big eye and high interorbital width; maxilla is short with 0.95-1.1 times of eye diameter; lower margin of the nostril lies far below the horizontal line crossing the orbit through pupil; dorsal profile of the head with a moderate number of scales; scales are cycloid and easily detached and have more predorsal and lateral line scales; elongated pelvic, anal, and dorsal fins; anterior part of the dorsal fin with high falcate lobe, posterior part is without prominent dark lobes and the longest ray of the posterior dorsal fin is 50% of the dorsal height; caudal fin is deeply forked and the lower lobe is moderate in length; caudal peduncle depth is moderate when compared with A. hians (Ref. 133121). | |||
| Biology: | ||||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||