Moolgarda perusii ( Valenciennes, 1836 )

Hasan, Ariba & Siddiqui, Pirzada Jamal Ahmed, 2020, Taxonomic study of the family Mugilidae from Pakistan coast (northern Arabian Sea), Zootaxa 4881 (1), pp. 131-151 : 137

Moolgarda perusii ( Valenciennes, 1836)

(Figure: 5)

D1: IV; D2: 8 A: III, 9; Pc: 13–15; Pl: I, 5 L. S: 32–35; T .S: 12–13

Local name. Pharra, Taint Pharra, Boi, Mori (Sin); Pal-low, Murba, Mundsar (BAL)

FAO name. Long-arm mullet

Material examined. 12 specimens of 154–201 mm TL.

Diagnosis. Body depth 26 to 29 % of SL at origin of first dorsal fin, 23 to 26 % of SL at anal fin, and 11 to 13 % of SL at caudal peduncle Origin of first dorsal fin is equidistant from caudal fin base and snout tip. Second dorsal fin origin vertical through origin of anal fin or slightly posterior to it. Pectoral fin 21–25% head length and 83–97% of SL. Scale numbers: 32–35 in lateral series and 12–13 scales in transverse series.

Description. Body robust. Head deeper than wide, bluntly pointed and dorsally flattened. Snout short and blunt. Adipose eye fold poorly developed as a rim around eye. Mouth terminal, upper lip slightly thickened, lower lip directed forwards. Pre-orbital bone wide. Maxilla slender and weakly curved down posteriorly. Dorsal fins falcate and well scaled. Pectoral fin with 13–15 spines are long, falcate and reaching vertical through first dorsal fin origin. Pectoral axillary scale distinct and long. Pelvic fin much shorter than pectoral fin. Caudal fin is moderately forked and scaled basally. Scales ctenoid with a membranous, digitated hind margin.

Color. Dorsally greenish to bluish green, abdomen and flanks silvery, operculum and iris with small gold patch, caudal fin and dorsal fins bright blue, caudal fin dusky at margins. Pectoral fin bluish yellow with dark blue spot at base dorsally. Yellowish anal and pelvic fins.

Distribution. Collected from Karachi fishing port and keti bunder.