Integrative Taxonomy Reveals Geographical range expansion of Nine Gobioid species in Indian water

Abstract

Gobiid diversity in Indian waters varied significantly between mainland India and  Andaman & Nicobar Islands (ANI) and Lakshadweep (LK) archipelago. In the present study, new distributional records of nine gobioid species from Indian waters are documented based on live specimens collected across Indian coast and Indian Islands groups during 2022-2026. These are; Amblyeleotris downingi, Amblyeleotris periophthalmus, and Ptereleotris zebra  documented for the first time in Indian waters.; Yongeichthys audax, Oxyurichthys omanensis and Bathygobius cocosensis are reported first time from ANI. Ptereleotris evides, Valenciennea strigata and Periophthalmus minutus, are documented for the first time from mainland India. Morphological examination together with DNA barcode (COI gene) confirmed the new geographic occurrences of these species in India water.