First record of spotted knifejaw, oplegnathus punctatus (Temminck & schlegel, 1844) (oplegnathidae) in the southern South China sea

Abstract

Oplegnathus punctatus (Temminck & Schlegel, 1844) is reported for the first time in the southern South China Sea, off Pulau Tenggol, Malaysia. This species is native to the north-western and central Pacific Ocean and mainly occurs in subtropical and warm temperate waters. This record is a significant southward extension of its range and also repre-sents the first documentation of the family Oplegnathidae in Malaysia.