Fishes of the genus Helcogramma (Blennioidei: Tripterygiidae) in the Western Indian Ocean, including Sri Lanka, with descriptions of four new species

Abstract

Fifteen species of the tripterygiid fish genus Helcogramma are recognised from the Western Indian Ocean (including Sri Lanka and the southeastern coast of India). Helcogramma shinglensis Lal Mohan is recognised as a valid species and four species are described as new: Helcogramm aalkamr , which is similar to H. chica Rosenblatt, is known from the Comoro Islands, the Seychelles and Mauritius; Helcogramma serendip , apparently confined to Sri Lanka and possibly a sibling species to H. alkamr Helcogramma ememes from the Seychelles and the East African coast, which is similar to H. hudsoni Schultz, and Helcogramma rharhabe , one of the H. obtusirostre complex of species, and which appears confined to the east coast of Africa from northern Mozambique to East London. Diagnoses of the other Western Indian Ocean species and a key are provided.