<i>Filistriatus arabicus</i>, a new species of threadfin (Polynemidae) from the northern Arabian Sea, India

A new species of threadfin, Filistriatus arabicus n. sp., is described based on three specimens (163-315 mm TL) collected from the coastal waters of Maharashtra (India), Arabian Sea. Filistriatus arabicus n. sp. can be distinguished from congeners by the presence of the following characters - 5 pectoral filaments, pectoral filament length 35.4-37.8% SL, reaching to or extending slightly beyond pelvic fin tip; black anterior lateral line spot absent; first dorsal fin with 8 spines, all spines equally robust; second dorsal fin with one spine and 13-14 soft rays; pectoral fin rays 15-16, length 4.5-4.7 in SL, origin below the lower end of maxilla horizontally; anal fin with 3 spines and 11 soft rays. 6-7 dark stripes along the scale rows above the lateral line, 7-8 scales above the lateral line, and 11-12 scales below the lateral line. Lateral line unbranched, 54-58 lateral line scales; 9-11+11-13 (20-24) gill rakers; upper jaw length 15-15.1% SL; distal margin of dorsal fins and pectorals black and anterior margin of pelvic dusky to black. The mitochondrial DNA (COI) sequence of F. arabicus exhibited a 6.6 to 10.3% sequence divergence from closest congeners. Key words: DNA, Filistriatus, Northern Indian Ocean, Polynemidae,Taxonomy