A new species of the genus Dysommina from the Lakshadweep Sea, India (Anguilliformes: Synaphobranchidae: Ilyophinae)

Abstract

This study describes a new Dysommina species, based on two specimens collected at a depth of ca. 600 m in the Lakshadweep Sea off south‐western India. The new species differs from its congeners in having fewer total vertebrae (120–127 vs. 134 in D. castanea , 133–134 in D. brevis , and 137–141 in D. orientalis ), fewer predorsal vertebrae (14–15 vs. 16 in D. pygmaea ), fewer preanal vertebrae (24–27 vs. 28–31 in D. rugosa ), and in a combination of morphometric, meristic, dentition and colouration characters. DNA sequences were generated and analysed.